Friday, September 9, 2011

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a respiratory disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, where the lungs are formed extensive scar tissueAsbestos minerals consist of silicate fibers with different chemical composition. If inhaled, asbestos fibers settle in the lungs, causing scarring. Inhalation of asbestos can also cause thickening of the pleura (the membrane lining the lungs).

Cause

Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring (fibrosis) in the lungs. Lung tissue fibrosis that forms can not inflate and deflate properly. Severity of the diseasedepends on the duration of exposure and the number of fibers inhaled. Exposure to asbestos can be found in the mining and milling, construction and other industries. Exposure to asbestos workers families can also occur from particles brought home on the clothing workers.
Diseases caused by asbestos include:
  • Pleural plaques (classification)
  • Malignant mesothelioma
  • Pleural effusion
Symtom


Asbestosis Symptoms appear gradually and emerging only after the formation of scar tissue in large quantities and the lungs lose their elasticity.The first symptoms are shortness of breath lighter and less ability to exercise.About 15% of patientswill experience severe shortness of breath and respiratory failureHeavy smokers with chronic bronchitis and asbestosiswill suffer from coughingand wheezingInhaling asbestos fibers can sometimes lead to accumulation of fluid in the space between the membranes lining the lungsAlthough rareasbestos can also cause Tumor called mesothelioma in the pleura or the lining of the abdomen called peritoneal mesothelioma.Mesothelioma caused by asbestos are malignant and incurableMesothelioma usually occur after exposure to krokidolitone of four types of asbestosAmosit,other speciesalso causes mesothelioma.Krisotil may not cause mesothelioma, but is sometimes tainted by tremolit that can cause mesotheliomaMesothelioma usually occur after exposure for 30-40 years. Lung cancer will occur in patients with asbestosis who also smokeespecially those who smoked more than one pack a day.


Other symptoms that may be found:

  • cough
  • tightness in chest
  • chest pain
  • nail disorders or clubbing of fingers (fingers form that resembles a drumpercussion).
Diagnosis

On physical examination using a stethoscope, you hear the sound crackles. To confirm the diagnosis, usually performed the following checks:
  • chest X-rays
  • Lung function tests
  • CT scan of the lung.
Treatment

Supportive treatment to overcome the symptoms is to remove mucus / phlegm from the lungs through the procedure postural drainagechest percussion and vibrationGiven drugs to thin the mucus sprayMay need to be given oxygeneither through a facemask (maskor through a plastic tube that is placed in the nostrilsSometimes performed lung transplantationFatal mesotheliomachemotherapy is not very useful and removal of the tumor does not cure cancer.

Prevention


Asbestosis can be prevented by reducing the fiber content and asbestos dust in the working environmentBecause the industry uses asbestos dust control has been done, now less suffering from asbestosismesothelioma but still occurs in people who have been exposed 40 years ago.

To reduce the risk of lung cancerto workers dealing with asbestos, it is recommended to quit smokingMeanwhile, in order to avoid the source of the disease to be spread on the family, it is recommended each worker to wash his clothes at the plantand replace them with clean clothes to return homeSo all the work clothes no one brought home, and workers cleaned up or shower before returning home each.





1 comment:

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    harry.roger10@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete