Byssinosis is a rare lung disease caused by inhaling cotton, flax, or hemp particles. It commonly occurs in workers in yarn and fabric manufacturing industries. Symptoms include chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing, especially on Mondays. Repeated exposure can cause scarring of the lungs and respiratory failure. Treatment focuses on reducing exposure and using bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory medications to ease symptoms.

1. Hemalatha sundararajan
Faculty of medicine

2.  Byssinosis is a rare lung disease. It’s caused by
inhaling hemp, flax, and cotton particles.
 It commonly occurs in workers who are employed
in yarn and fabric manufacture industries.
 Other names for byssinosis include Monday
fever, brown lung disease, mill fever or cotton
workers' lung.
 It is a form of occupational asthma.

3.  Although inhaling cotton dust was identified as a
respiratory disease more than 300 years ago.
 Byssinosis has been recognized as an occupational hazard
for textile workers for less than 50 years.
 In India more than100,000 workers in the cotton, flax, and
rope-making industries are exposed in the workplace to
airborne particles that can cause byssinosis.
 Only workers in mills that manufacture yarn, thread, or
fabric have a significant risk of dying of this disease.

5.  Inhalation of endotoxin produced by gram negative bacteria in
the fibers of cotton may stimulate inflammation that damages
the normal structure of the lung.
 It causes the release of histamine, which constricts the air
passages.
 As a result, breathing becomes difficult.
 Over time the dust accumulates in the lung, producing a
typical discoloration that gives the disease its name BROWN
LUNG DISEASE.

6.  Chest tightness
 Wheezing
 Upper respiratory tract
irritation
 Dry Coughing
 Dyspnea
 Fever
 Muscle and joint pain
 Shivering
 Tiredness
 cough
Byssinosis can ultimately result in narrowing of the airways, Lung
scarring and death from infection or respiratory failure.

8. The condition is worse at the beginning
of the week.Hence the other common
name for byssinosis – Monday fever

9.  Textile workers(1st stage of processing of cotton)
 Smoking
 Impaired lung function
 History of respiratory allergy
 Bronchitis
 Asthma
 Infections
 Exposure >20 years

10.  Detailed medical history
 Physical examination
 Pulmonary function test(FEV1,FVC)
 Chest X-ray(opacity)
 CT

11.  Appearance of the Patient
Weight loss is present in the chronic form of the
syndrome.
 Vital Signs
Fever and tachypnea are often present.
 Auscultation
Diffuse fine bi basilar crackles over lower lung fields
often are present.
 Extremities
Clubbing is observed in 50% of patients with the
chronic form of the syndrome

12.  FEV1(forced expiratory volume)
is decreased below 80% due to
increased airway resistance.
 FVC (forced vital capacity) is
decreased due to air trapping.
 Ratio of FEV1/FVC decreased.

13.  In acute settings patients are encouraged to consider
alternate occupations or at least reduce the exposure
in the work environment.
 Smokers should be encouraged to stop smoking.
 Physical activity and breathing exercises may help in
management.

14.  Bronchodilators help to relax and dilate the airways.
 Bronchodilators include beta-adrenergic drugs (both those for quick
relief of symptoms and those for long-term control), anticholinergics,
and methylxanthines.
 Corticosteroids are given only in severe cases.
 Immunomodulators and Antihistamines can also be used.

15.  Oxygen therapy is given in case
of hypoxia - diminished blood
oxygen levels (oxygen saturation
levels of <92%).
 Nebulizers used in chronic
byssinosis.

16.  Enclosure of processing of cotton.
 Avoid smoking.
 Wear protective masks.
 Increase ventilation.
 Avoiding long term exposure.

17.  Byssinosis is generally not serious.
 But if left untreated it can lead to chronic illnesses
such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
 When exposure of fiber stop, the illness will clear up.
 In case of long time exposure there is irreversible
damage to lungs.