Which of the following occupational lung disease caused by cotton dust?

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

Byssinosis is the specific occupational lung disease caused by inhaling dust from cotton, flax, or hemp.
It is also known as "brown lung disease" and is most prevalent among textile and cotton processing workers.
The disease is characterized by airway obstruction and a classic symptom pattern of chest tightness that is most severe upon returning to work after a break, such as on a Monday.

Option A: Asbestosis is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers, not cotton dust.
Option C: Bagassosis is caused by inhaling dust from moldy sugarcane fiber, known as bagasse.
Option D: Anthracosis, also known as 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 (Pneumoconioses) and their 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 component of the nursing assessment for any patient presenting with respiratory symptoms to identify potential exposures.
The hallmark symptom of Byssinosis is "Monday chest tightness," where symptoms are worst at the beginning of the workweek. Nurses should specifically ask about the timing of symptoms in relation to work.
Primary prevention through dust control measures (e.g., ventilation, wetting processes) and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is the most effective strategy against occupational lung diseases.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: "occupational lung disease" and "cotton dust."
The question asks for a direct association between a specific dust and the disease it causes. This is a factual recall question.
Review the options provided.
Recall or deduce the causative agent for each listed disease.
Match "cotton dust" to the correct disease. Byssinosis is the classic disease associated with cotton dust.
Eliminate the other options by identifying their respective causes: Asbestosis (asbestos), Bagassosis (sugarcane dust), and Anthracosis (coal dust).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Occupational Lung Diseases (Pneumoconioses) and their causative agents.
Stem keywords: occupational lung disease, cotton dust
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

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

E6 Pathology-Textbook of PATHOLOGYHarsh Mohan Part 2 (215-514) p. 61-63

Practise the full DSSSB 13 August 2024

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