Asbestosis is a respiratory disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, where the lungs are formed extensive scar tissue. Asbestos 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 patients, will experience severe shortness of breath and respiratory failure. Heavy smokers with chronic bronchitis and asbestosis, will suffer from coughingand wheezing. Inhaling asbestos fibers can sometimes lead to accumulation of fluid in the space between the membranes lining the lungs. Although rare, asbestos 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 incurable. Mesothelioma usually occur after exposure to krokidolit, one of four types of asbestos. Amosit,other species, also causes mesothelioma.Krisotil may not cause mesothelioma, but is sometimes tainted by tremolit that can cause mesothelioma. Mesothelioma usually occur after exposure for 30-40 years. Lung cancer will occur in patients with asbestosis who also smoke, especially 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 drainage, chest percussion and vibration. Given drugs to thin the mucus spray. May need to be given oxygen, either through a facemask (mask) or through a plastic tube that is placed in the nostrils. Sometimes performed lung transplantation. Fatal mesothelioma, chemotherapy 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 environment. Because the industry uses asbestos dust control has been done, now less suffering from asbestosis, mesothelioma but still occurs in people who have been exposed 40 years ago.
To reduce the risk of lung cancer, to workers dealing with asbestos, it is recommended to quit smoking. Meanwhile, 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 plant, and replace them with clean clothes to return home. So all the work clothes no one brought home, and workers cleaned up or shower before returning home each.
