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Alternative names Return to top
Pulmonary fibrosis - from asbestos exposure; Idiopathic interstitial pneumonitis - from asbestos exposureDefinition Return to top
Asbestosis is a respiratory disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers.Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scar tissue (fibrosis) to form inside the lung. Scarred lung tissue does not expand and contract normally. The severity of the disease depends upon the duration of exposure to asbestos and the amount inhaled.
Asbestos fibers were commonly used in construction before 1975. Asbestos exposure occurs in asbestos mining and milling industries, construction, fireproofing, and other industries. In families of asbestos workers, exposure can also occur from particles brought home on the worker's clothing.
Asbestos-related disease includes pleural plaques (calcification), malignant mesothelioma, and pleural effusion. Mesotheliomas may develop 20 to 40 years after exposure. More than 9 million workers are at risk of developing this disease.
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of developing the disease. The incidence is 4 out of 10,000 people.
Symptoms Return to top
Possible additional symptoms include the following:
Signs and tests Return to top
When listening to the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation), the health care provider may detect a crackling sound.
These tests may help diagnose the disease: This disease may also alter the results of ACE level testing.Treatment Return to top
There is no cure available. Stopping further exposure to asbestos is essential. Supportive treatment of symptoms includes respiratory treatments to remove secretions from the lungs by postural drainage, chest percussion, and vibration.
Aerosol medications to thin secretions may be prescribed. Oxygen by mask or by a plastic piece that fits into the nostrils may be needed.
Support Groups Return to top
The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. See lung disease - support group.Expectations (prognosis) Return to top
The outcome depends upon the duration and extent of the exposure. Patients who develop malignant mesothelioma have a poor probable outcome, with 75% of those affected dying within 1 year.Complications Return to top
Calling your health care provider Return to top
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if exposure to asbestos is suspected or if unexplained symptoms occur.Prevention Return to top
Early screening by chest X-ray of people who are exposed to asbestos may help prevent asbestosis. Update Date: 5/7/2003 Updated by: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |