11. Diagnosis of silicosis
1) Chest radiography.
2) Computed tomography(CT).
3) High resolution computer tomography scanning(HRCT).
4) Pulmonary function tests.
12. Prevention of silicosis.
1. Cough suppressants (some cough preparations are suggested at the initial stage
of silicosis.
2. Stopping further exposure to airborne silica, silica dust and other lung irritants,
including tobacco smoking.
3. Antibiotics for bacterial lung infection.
4. Tuberculosis (TB) prophylaxis for those with positive tuberculin test.
5. Prolonged anti-tuberculosis (multi drug regimen) for those with active TB.
6. Chest physiotherapy to help the bronchial drainage of mucus.
7. Oxygen administration to treat hypoxemia, if present.
8. Bronchodilators to facilitate breathing.
13. Treatment of silicosis.
1) The treatment of silicosis by aluminum powder.
2) Prednisolone in the treatment of silicosis.
3) Tetrandrine in the treatment of silicosis.
4) Corticosteroid therapy in the treatment of acute silicosis.
5) Lung transplantation or surgery for treatment of silicosis.
14. The treatment of silicosis by
aluminum powder
Silicosis is treated with aluminum powder or
a thin film of a gelatinous hydrated alumina
which on drying forms the crystalline alpha
aluminum monohydrate boehmite
(AL2O3h2O) it leads to reduce the solubility
of the silica particles
15. Corticosteroid therapy in the
treatment of acute silicosis.
Corticosteroid therapy is also a good treatment in
acute silicosis in atleast in between three months of
time duration the nodulation can marked be
reduced or the nodulation reduces therapy can be
given by the oral route of drug administration the
therapeutic effect can be diagnosed by the
pulmonary function test and the chest radiography
and it may indicate the deterioration in the
patients condition. So corticosteroid therapy can
also be a good treatment for acute silicosis.
16. Lung transplantation or surgery for
treatment of silicosis.
Lung transplantation or lung surgery for treatment of
silicosis is not an effective treatment because lung silicosis
patients are rarely candidates of lung transplantation.
Pathological findings support that the notion that
aspiration is the cause of lung silicosis, as massive fibrosis
granulations are generally located in the middle and lower
lobes, whereas typical airborne silicosis occurs in the upper
lung zone, so research says that lung transplantation or
surgery for treatment of silicosis is not an effective
treatment for silicosis.
