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Asbestosis - Treatment

Nombres alternativos

Fibrosis pulmonar por exposición al asbesto; Neumonitis intersticial por exposición al asbesto

Tratamiento:

No existe cura. Es esencial suspender la exposición al asbesto. Para aliviar los síntomas, el drenaje, la percusión del tórax y la vibración pueden ayudar a eliminar los fluidos de los pulmones.

El médico puede prescribir medicamentos en aerosol para disolver los fluidos. Es posible que las personas con esta afección necesiten recibir oxígeno por medio de una máscara o por medio de una cánula plástica que se inserta en las fosas nasales. Asimismo, ciertos pacientes pueden necesitar un trasplante de pulmón.

Grupos de apoyo:

Uno puede mitigar el estrés de la enfermedad vinculándose a un grupo de apoyo, cuyos miembros comparten experiencias y problemas en común. Ver grupos de apoyo para las enfermedades pulmonares.

Pronóstico:

El desenlace clínico depende de la duración y cantidad de asbesto a la que estuvo expuesto. Esta afección tiende a empeorar más lentamente que la fibrosis pulmonar idiopática si usted deja de exponerse al asbesto.

Los pacientes que desarrollan mesotelioma maligno tienden a tener un pronóstico desalentador y aproximadamente un 75% de aquéllos que resultan afectados muere al cabo de un año.

Posibles complicaciones:

Cuándo contactar a un profesional médico:

Solicite una cita médica si sospecha que ha estado expuesto al asbesto o si presenta síntomas inexplicables.

  • Reviewed last on: 6/10/2011
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Ccare, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Cowie RL, Murray J, Becklake MR. Pneumoconioses. In: Mason RJ, Murray JF, Broaddus VC, Martin TR, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa : Saunders Elsevier; 2010: chap 65.

Samet JM. Occupational pulmonary disorders. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 93.

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