Inhalation of cotton dust causes?

Appeared in: HPSSSB Staff Nurse - 2016

Explanation

Byssinosis, also known as 'brown lung disease,' is an occupational lung disease directly caused by inhaling dust from cotton, as well as other vegetable fibers like flax and hemp.
It is most common among workers in the textile industry who are involved in the initial stages of cotton processing.
A characteristic feature of byssinosis is 'Monday chest tightness,' where symptoms of chest tightness and breathlessness are most severe on the first day back to work after a break and improve over the week.

Option B: Bagassosis is caused by the inhalation of dust from bagasse, which is the fibrous residue left after sugarcane is crushed.
Option C: Nirthacosis is not a recognized medical term for an occupational lung disease. It is likely a misspelling of Anthracosis.
Option D: Mouldy lungs, commonly known as Farmer's Lung, is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. It is caused by an allergic reaction to inhaling mould spores from mouldy hay, straw, or grain.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Occupational Lung Diseases (Pneumoconiosis) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses in occupational health settings are vital for primary and secondary prevention. They conduct health surveillance, educate workers on the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and advocate for engineering controls like improved ventilation to reduce dust exposure.
Early detection through regular screening (e.g., spirometry) is crucial because pneumoconiosis is often progressive and has no cure. Management focuses on preventing further exposure and managing symptoms.
What if? If a worker was a coal miner presenting with a cough and shortness of breath, the primary suspicion would shift from Byssinosis to Anthracosis (Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question stem: 'inhalation' and 'cotton dust'.
This is a factual recall question requiring knowledge of specific occupational lung diseases.
Analyze the options provided. Your goal is to match the causative agent (cotton dust) with the correct disease name.
Recall or deduce the cause for each option. Byssinosis is specifically linked to cotton dust.
Eliminate the other options by identifying their causes: Bagassosis from sugarcane, and Mouldy Lungs (Farmer's Lung) from mouldy hay.
Recognize that 'Nirthacosis' is not a standard term, making it an incorrect choice.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) pp. 123-125, 124-126

Practise the full HPSSSB Staff Nurse - 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.