Name
COAL WORKERS PNEUMOCONIOSIS
DESCRIPTION
DETAIL
* X-RAY CHEST - IN EARLY STAGE SMALL IRREGULAR OPACITIES ( RETICULAR PATTERN ) . WITH PROLONGED EXPOSURE ROUNDED, SMALL REGULAR OPACITIES (1-5 MM )ARE SEEN. LATER ON OPACITIES MAY RANGE FROM 1 CM TO ONE ENTIRE LOBE, GENERALLY CALLED AS PROGRESSIVE MASSIVE FIBROSIS.
TYPENOTES
Medical Care: " Treatment for both SCWP and CCWP is symptomatic. Use oxygen as hypoxemia demands. " No evidence supports the hypothesis that removing the miner from the mining environment arrests the disease once progression to PMF has begun. Therefore, serially monitoring the chest radiographs of miners in order to prevent development of CCWP is prudent. Advise workers who develop evidence of SCWP to transfer to jobs with low dust exposure. " Smoking has an additive effect on CWP; therefore, strongly recommend smoking cessation. " Caplan syndrome is treated similarly to PMF. Oxygen and bronchodilators are administered as needed. The rheumatoid component is treated separately, per rheumatological protocol. " All patients should receive immunizations for influenzae and pneumococci. " Seriously consider the possibility of superimposed mycobacterial infection in any patient with unexplained weight loss, chronic cough, fever, or night sweats.
RELATED DISEASE
Not Available Disease
DISEASE
INVESTIGATION
X-RAY CHEST P.A. VIEW( NORMAL ), COMPLETE HAEMOGRAM, PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST, CT SCAN THORAX