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Sep 11 2007 12:18PM LR HRUG RSSOC 9522261203 p. 11 <br />Silicosis Injury Including Acute Silicosis, Chronic Silicosis and Accelerated Silicosis Fage 2 of 3 <br />within a few years of its deveiopmant. <br />Aeube Silicosis <br />Acute all Ieosis Is the quickest developkrg slibasis injury. Acute <br />silicosis can develop only weeks after extremely high levels otsillca <br />dust exposure. In ether cases, acutesAicosis takes up to flue yeats <br />to develop. N either case, acute s8icosis does noE progress to the <br />chronic stages, as acute slikasis causes massive lung damage In a <br />shod period of lima. Rope for patients with acute silicosis a typlcaty <br />limited to a lung tansplant This Ls usually only possible in younger <br />acute sNioosis patients that are stf l sfrorg enough to undergo the <br />surgery. <br />Aaute sikicosis is charader¢ed by high levels of fluid and protein <br />particles m the tangs. Thfs material fills the sates in the lungs acid <br />leads m extneme difficult breathing, shortriess of breath, antl <br />r~ptatory failure. Acute stOCOSis is assoceied with severe weight <br />loss afrd ffi often found in sandblasters. <br />Back to Too <br />Silicosis Symptoms <br />~Sllicosis diminishes lung function with severe damage b lung tissue <br />caused blr she formation of large amounts of fi6raus scar tissue in <br />tl~e lungs. This star tissue destroys air and Obod pessagearays, <br />decreasing lung capacHy and avallable oxygen to the body. <br />Symptoms of sitfcoses include: <br />n.Shartness of breath <br />n Severe, chronic often dry, cough <br />n Lass of appetite <br />o Weight loss <br />o Fever <br />o Chest Pains <br />o Breathing difficulty <br />o Coughing up blood <br />w Problems sleeping <br />u Hoare aness <br />Bade to Too <br />Sllicosls T'reatmertt <br />Treatment for sllkosis injury is limited. Since theta M no cure far the <br />disease, Fhere is m specific treatment for sliicosis. Physidars alien <br />focus an maintaining patient comfort and slowing the Progression of <br />SiliaosiS. <br />Tha firs# step in slowing the progression d the disease is b <br />ei iminate the patient's exposure m twdc crystalline silica dust Once <br />silica expowre is eliminated, the silicoses patient is encouraged to <br />quitamoking (If he or she smokes) antl to etfminate as many <br />sources of respiratory irtitalian as possible. Cough suppression <br />drugs, breathing aids and oxygen may elf be used to help silicosis <br />injury patienffi breathe easier, Silicosis injury patents era dosety <br />watched tome sure they donY develop irdectians. Since the <br />stUcosis pafienfs immune system is typicalFy weak, he or she can <br />develop lung infections very easily. Close monitoring ailaxs ouch <br />irrfactions to be quicldy tested. ' <br />Silicosis patents era routinely tested far tuberculosis because one <br />of the major side effects of silicosis is the developnrent of <br />http:/,rwv/w.si&cosisclaims.ccm/silicosis injnry_html 9; 20!2007 <br />