Asbestosis is a respiratory disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, where the lungs extensive scar tissue is formed.
Asbestos minerals consist of silicate fibers with different chemical composition. If inhaled, asbestos fibers settle in the lungs, causing scarring.
Inhaling asbestos can also cause thickening of the pleura (the membrane lining the lungs).
Causes
Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring (fibrosis) in the lungs.
Lung tissue fibrosis that forms can not inflate and deflate properly. Severity of the disease depends 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 of workers.
Diseases caused by asbestos include:
- Pleural plaques (calcification)
- Malignant mesothelioma
- Pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma can occur within 20-40 years after exposure.
Cigarette smoking causes increased risk of diseases caused by asbestos.
The number of events is equal to 4 among 10,000 people.
Symptoms
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 and decreased ability to mild exercise.
About 15% of patients, will experience severe shortness of breath and respiratory failure.
Heavy smokers with chronic bronchitis and asbestosis, will suffer from coughing and 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 tumors in the pleura, called mesothelioma, or the lining of the abdomen called peritoneal mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma caused by asbestos is malignant and can not be cured.
Mesothelioma generally arise stelah krokidolit exposed, one of four types of asbestos.
Amosit, other types, also cause 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 1 (one) pack a day.
Other symptoms that may be found:
- Cough
- Tightness in chest
- Chest pain
- Nail abnormalities or clubbing fingers (fingers form that resembles a drum percussion).
Diagnosis
On physical examination using a stethoscope, you hear a voice crackles
To confirm the diagnosis, usually performed the following checks:
- Chest radiograph
- 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 levels of asbestos fibers and dust in the working environment.
Because the industry that uses asbestos dust control has been done, now suffering from asbestosis fewer, but still mesothelioma occur 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.
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