Silicosis - A Case Report

Abstract

Silicosis is not an uncommon disease in Bangladesh as a good number of people are exposed to silica dust in their working places. Again pulmonary tuberculosis is also common here, the risk of which is increased by about 30 folds in silicosis. In the reported case, a young stone cutter of 40 years was admitted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital with progressive dyspnoea, dry cough and radiological appearance of multiple small and a large nodular pulmonary mass. Two of his brothers, also stonecutter, died of similar disease. In this context the patient was diagnosed as a case of chronic complicated silicosis and treated symptomatically as there is no curative treatment. A good number of people are engaged in stone cutting in our country including Faridpur district and are vulnerable to this progressive and non-curable disease. To aim of this case report is to make those people to be aware about the condition, so that they can protect themselves by taking appropriate measures (i.e. using protective mask) and should monitored their condition by regular chest x-ray. If early signs of silicosis is detected the worker should changed their job.

A Case Report of Silicosis: Culprit of Progressive Massive Fibrosis

“…Type 3 is acute silicosis which occurs months or weeks after exposure to a very high concentration of crystalline silica, usually leading to death in months (National Safety Council, 2015). Silicosis is associated with multiple lung comorbidities including lung cancer, autoimmune diseases and tuberculosis which are also known as 'silicotuberculosis' (Ali et al, 2010).…”

“…A silicotic nodule has a central zone of hyalinized fibrous tissue, a middle zone of concentrical collagen fibres and an outer zone of random collagen fibres combining with macrophages and lymphoid cells (Mossman et al, 1998). Ali et al (2010) outlined the approach to diagnose silicosis which encompassed exposure to sufficient silica dust, radiographic features of silicosis and exclusion of other illnesses causing similar abnormalities. Pulmonary Function Tests may be normal or obstructive and/ or restrictive abnormalities may be present.…”

Respiratory symptoms, spirometric, and radiological status of stone‐cutting workers in Bangladesh: A cross‐sectional study

“…Silicosis is not an uncommon disease in Bangladesh, as many people are exposed to silica dust in their workplaces. 12 …”

“…Silicosis is not an uncommon disease in Bangladesh, as many people are exposed to silica dust in their workplaces. 12 From an epidemiological point of view, data are scarce regarding the respiratory health of stone-cutting workers in Bangladesh. We conducted an epidemiological study to determine respiratory symptoms' prevalence, lung function status, and radiological abnormalities among stone-cutting workers in Lalmonirhat district, Bangladesh.…”

“…As Bangladesh is transforming from an agro‐based country to an industrial powerhouse, the prevalence of occupation‐related lung diseases is also increasing rapidly. Silicosis is not an uncommon disease in Bangladesh, as many people are exposed to silica dust in their workplaces 12 …”