Pneumoconiosis

Black lung disease; Pneumoconiosis Definition

Coal worker's pneumoconiosis is a respiratory disease caused by inhaling coal dust for prolonged periods.

Coal worker's pneumoconiosis occurs in two forms: simple and complicated (progressive massive fibrosis). Inhalation of coal dust causes this disease. The simple form is usually not disabling, but the complicated form often is. Smoking does not increase the prevalence of this disease but may have an additive detrimental effect on lung function.

The risk of developing the disease is related to the duration and extent of exposure to the coal dust. Most affected workers are over the age of 50.

• shortness of breath
• chronic cough

• chest X-ray

In a spirometry test, a person breathes into mouthpiece that is connected to an instrument called a spirometer. The spirometer records the amount and the rate of air that is breathed in and out over a specified time. Some of the test measurements are obtained by normal, quiet breathing, and other tests require forced inhalation or exhalation after a deep breath.

Lung volume measurement can be performed in two ways. The most accurate way is for a person to sit in a body plethysmograph, a sealed, transparent box that resembles a telephone booth, while breathing in and out against into a mouthpiece. Changes in pressure inside the box allow determination of the lung volume. Lung volume can also be measured when a person breathes nitrogen or helium gas through a tube for a specified period of time. The concentration of the gas in a chamber attached to the tube is measured, allowing estimation of the lung volume.

The diffusion capacity is measured when a person breathes carbon monoxide for a very short time, often one breath. The concentration of carbon monoxide in exhaled air is then measured. The difference in the amount of carbon monoxide inhaled and the amount exhaled allows estimation of how rapidly gas can travel from the lungs into the blood.

There is no specific treatment for this disorder other than treatment of complications. Avoidance of further exposure to coal dust is recommended.

The outcome for the simple form is usually good. However, the complicated form may become a disabling illness.

Cor Pulmonale failure of the right side of the heart)

Failure of the right side of the heart caused by prolonged high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery and right ventricle of the heart.

Normally, the left side of the heart produces a higher level of blood pressure in order to pump blood to the body; the right side pumps blood through the lungs under much lower pressure. Any condition that leads to prolonged high blood pressure in the arteries or veins of the lungs (called pulmonary hypertension) will be poorly tolerated by the right ventricle of the heart. When this right ventricle fails or is unable to properly pump against these abnormally high pressures, this is called cor pulmonale.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). The lungs are primarily involved, but the infection can spread to other organs.

Tuberculosis can develop after inhaling droplets sprayed into the air from a cough or sneeze by someone infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is characterized by the development of granulomas (granular tumours) in the infected tissues.

The usual site of the disease is the lungs, but other organs may be involved. The primary stage of the infection is usually asymptomatic

Asymptomatic means there are no symptoms. A person is asymptomatic if an illness or condition is present without recognizable symptoms.

Pulmonary TB develops in the minority of people whose immune systems do not successfully contain the primary infection. The disease may occur within weeks after the primary infection, or it may lie dormant for years before causing disease.

The risk of contracting TB increases with the frequency of contact with people who have the disease, and with crowded or unsanitary living conditions and poor nutrition. An increased incidence of TB has been seen recently in the United States. Factors that may contribute to the increase in tuberculosis infection are:- Incomplete treatment of TB infections (such as failure to take medications for the prescribed length of time) can contribute to the emergence of drug-resistant strains of bacteria.