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Internal Medicine

Byssinosis

Occupational lung disease caused by exposure to cotton dust in inadequately ventilated working environments.

Occupational lung disease caused by exposure to cotton dust in inadequately ventilated working environments.


Aetiology

  • Exposure to cotton dust during the spinning and manufacturing process
  • Smoking (risk factor)

Clinical features

Monday fever:

Pusually report symptoms towards the beginning of their work week and thus the term Monday fever
  • Frequent coughing, chest tightness, dyspnea, and at times, wheezing, particularly within a few hours of exposure (or reexposure) to the workplace.

Chronic byssinosis state:

Once exposure and lung irritation becomes persistent, patients will no longer have cyclical symptoms and progress to the chronic byssinosis state

Differential diagnosis:

  • Occupational asthma (symptoms present towards the end of work week)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis.

Management

Supportive management:

  • Stopping exposure and smoking

Symptomatic management:

  • Short- and long-acting β-agonists
  • Inhaled corticosteroid

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