Is silicosis still underdiagnosed?

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Published: Sep 29, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31524/bkkmedj.2021.22.001
Keywords:
ceramic worker, health check-up, ILO classification of radiographs of pneumoconioses, multidisciplinary team, occupational lung disease, silica, silicosis, underdiagnosis.

Main Article Content

Sirawit Stitsmith,MD
Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial hospital, Chon Buri, Thailand.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2998-6988
Narongpon Dumavibhat, MD, PhD
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Charubongse Brohmwitak, MD
Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial hospital, Chon Buri, Thailand.
Sitthiphon Bunman, PhD
Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
Apinut Jaroonpipatkul, MD
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Thanaporn Panomsak
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Kawintra Khantharot, MD
Department of Occupational Health, Lampang Hospital, Lampang, Thailand.
Arunee Pholngam, RN
Department of Occupational Health, Lampang Hospital, Lampang, Thailand.

Abstract

Silicosis, a long-standing occupational lung disease, is still a worldwide health problem. Although many international organizations lead the effort to eliminate this incurable disease, there are newly reported cases continuously. Primary prevention is crucial. If the best resolution is not perfectly implemented, secondary prevention, including early diagnosis of silicosis is essential. However, there is still the problem of underdiagnosis which results in patients continuing working leading to disease progression. The authors present three underdiagnosed cases of employees working in the same company. It is hoped the present study may lead to the improvement of silicosis prevention in the country.

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Stitsmith,MD S, Dumavibhat, MD, PhD N, Brohmwitak, MD C, Bunman, PhD S, Jaroonpipatkul, MD A, Panomsak T, Khantharot, MD K, Pholngam, RN A. Is silicosis still underdiagnosed?. BKK Med J [Internet]. 2021 Sep. 29 [cited 2024 Nov. 22];17(2):142. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/bkkmedj/article/view/251041
Issue
Vol. 17 No. 2 (2021): September
Section
Case Report

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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