Symptoms

Silicosis

Silicosis may be the oldest known work related lung disease. Silicosis will usually be found in individuals who have worked with silica and have inhaled small free silica particles in industries like metal mining, pottery making, and sandstone and granite cutting. Patients will have been exposed for twenty to thirty years before symptoms become noticeable.

Patients with simple silicosis may have no respiratory symptoms. They may however cough and produce phlegm, but these are due to bronchitis and will usually happen as often as individuals without silicosis.

Patients with conglomerate silicosis will have worse symptoms including shortness of breath, coughing, and phlegm. Depending on the stage of advanced silicosis, the shortness of breath may become highly dehabilitating. In the late stages of complicated silicosis lung abnormalities are common. Patients exposed to silica in an occupational environement who test positive for tuberculing are at risk for TB. The more silica in the lungs the higher the risk.