Exposure to silica occurs in many situations. Miners have been the most common group affected but anyone exposed to sand, quartz or rock may be at risk.
Clinical signs and symptoms:
(1) dyspnea, which is usually progressive
(2) low-grade fever
(3) chronic dry cough
(4) wheezing
In end-stage disease the person may develop respiratory failure, cor pulmonale and/or cardiac failure.
Changes in chest imaging studies:
(1) small nodules
(2) large nodules, which may coalesce
(3) interstitial fibrosis
(4) lumphadenopathy with or without eggshell calcification in hilar lymph nodes
Criteria for diagnosis:
(1) history of exposure and slow evolution over years
(2) changes in chest X-ray
(3) exclusion of other causes such as miliary tuberculosis or sarcoidosis
Comorbidities:
(1) smoking
(2) tuberculosis
(3) autoimmune disease
(4) lung cancer
