Silicosis is a progressive interstitial lung disease, characterized by shortness of breath, cough, fever and bluish skin; it can present in three different forms: acute, accelerated and chronic. 1 It is caused by the lung tissue reaction to the inhalation of silica and occurs most commonly as an occupational disease of people working in the quarrying, manufacturing and building construction industries. Exposure to large amounts of free silica can go unnoticed because silica is odourless, non-irritant and does not cause any immediate health effects. As silicosis is incurable, clinical management includes removing the worker from the industry and giving symptomatic treatment. Public health goals are to detect early cases through monitoring of currently and formerly exposed workers, to establish surveillance programmes, to slow progression and to reduce disability. 2
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