Which occupational lung disease is caused by cane fibre?

Appeared in: DSSSB 12 August 2024

Explanation

Bagassosis is an occupational lung disease specifically caused by the inhalation of dust from cane fibre, also known as bagasse.
Bagasse is the fibrous material that remains after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice.
The disease is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an immune system disorder in which the lungs become inflamed.
It is triggered by breathing in the spores of thermophilic actinomycetes, a type of bacteria that thrives in warm, mouldy bagasse.

Option A: Asbestosis is caused by inhaling asbestos fibres, not cane fibre. Asbestos is a mineral used in construction and insulation.
Option C: Byssinosis, also known as 'brown lung disease', is caused by inhaling dust from cotton, flax, or hemp, primarily affecting textile workers.
Option D: Anthracosis, or 'coal worker's pneumoconiosis' or 'black lung disease', is caused by the inhalation of coal dust.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Occupational Lung Diseases and Causative Agents helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A thorough occupational history is a critical nursing assessment for any patient presenting with respiratory symptoms like chronic cough or shortness of breath, as it can reveal exposures that point to a specific diagnosis.
The primary management for Bagassosis and other similar occupational lung diseases is the immediate and complete cessation of exposure to the causative agent to prevent irreversible lung damage (fibrosis).
What if? If a patient from a textile mill presented with shortness of breath that worsens at the beginning of the work week ('Monday morning chest tightness'), the nurse should suspect Byssinosis, not Bagassosis.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'occupational lung disease' and 'cane fibre'.
The term 'cane fibre' is a direct reference to sugarcane.
Systematically review the options, looking for a disease name that relates to sugarcane.
Recall or deduce the etymology of the options. 'Bagasse' is the specific term for processed sugarcane fibre. Therefore, 'Bagassosis' is the disease associated with it.
Eliminate the other options by matching them to their known causes: Asbestosis (asbestos), Byssinosis (cotton), and Anthracosis (coal).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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

Practise the full DSSSB 12 August 2024

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