• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Coal worker's pneumoconiosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Black lung disease; Pneumoconiosis; Anthrosilicosis

Treatment:

There is no specific treatment for this disorder. You should avoid further exposure to the dust.

Support Groups:

For additional resources, see lung disease support group .

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome for the simple form is usually good. In rare cases, the complicated form may get suddently worse. It rarely causes disability or death.

Complications:

Complications may include:

• Cor pulmonale (failure of the right side of the heart)
• Pulmonary tuberculosis

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you develop symptoms of coal worker's pneumoconiosis.

References:

Mason RJ, Murray J, VC Broaddus, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2005:1758-1763.

Noble J. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine . 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001:694-697.

• Review Date: 3/16/2007
• Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.