Symptoms and Signs
Chronic silicosis initially causes no symptoms or old mild respiratory difficulties. Over years it may, however progress to involve most of the lung and may cause dyspnoea (difficulty to breathe) at rest.
Productive cough may occur. With the progression of the disease breath sounds diminish.
Advanced cases may present with:
- Pulmonary consolidation
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Respiratory failure with or without right ventricular failure (heart failure)
Acute silicosis patients experience:
Advertisement
- rapid progress of dyspnoea
- weight loss
- fatigue with diffuse bilateral crackles.
Respiratory failure often arises within 2 yr.
Conglomerate silicosis (complicated silicosis) causes severe, chronic respiratory symptoms.
