Question:

Thanks for answering my questions I have been worried about having Silicosis for a while. My Family Dr is treating me Fibromiligia could that cause breathing problem.Thanks

Answer:

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. This condition usually requires long-standing silica dust exposure (generally more than just a few weeks).

People at risk for developing silicosis include those in such jobs as brick masons, quarry workers, miners, and foundry workers.

Silicosis causes symptoms of shortness of breath and cough. There are fairly typical x-ray and CT findings with nodules, infiltrates, and enlargement of the lymph nodes that in the context of a person having an at-risk job can usually be sufficient to make a diagnosis without doing a lung biopsy.

Almost all patients with silicosis bad enough to cause shortness of breath will have an abnormal x-ray or CT scan.

For more information:

Go to the Pulmonary Fibrosis health topic.