BLACK LUNG

Keefer Kimball2A

2/7/12

Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis is a disease that occurs in a simple form (Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis) and a complicated form (progressive massive fibrosis). It takes place in the lungs when coal dust has been inhaled over a long period of time causing inflammation, fibrosis and in worse cases, necrosis.

What is it?

The alveoli and pulmonary lymph nodes are mostly affect by the dust particles.

What part of the lungs are affected?

It is caused by coal dust that enters the lungs and can neither be destroyed nor removed by the body. The particles are engulfed by resident alveolar, residing in the connective tissue or pulmonary lymph nodes.

Cause

There is no specific treatment nor is there any medication that can be taken for this disease because it is impossible to remove the dust particles from the lungs. The best option that is suggested is avoiding coal mines.

Therapy

If any individual has the simple form of the disease, the out come is usually good.

Individuals with the complicated form are predisposed to getting chronic bronchitis, COPD, Cor Pulmonale and respiratory failure.

Progression of disease

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001187/

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Sources