Asbestosis is a serios lung disease due to long-term inhalation of asbestos. Patients have pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, pleural plaques and pleural thickening. The pathological change is a chronic, progressive, diffuse and irreversible. The symptoms usually appear 7 to 10 years after inhaling asbestos, but a few cases have symptoms only after inhaling asbestos for about 1 year. Symptoms include cough, sputum, shortness of breath, chest tightness, chest pain and other symptoms. In the late stage, pulmonary heart disease may occur. Treatment: symptomatic treatment and treatment of complications. During the alveolitis stage corticosteroid may be effective.
How is Asbestosis treated in practice?