Silicosis in its chronic and accelerated forms varies in it's symptoms. It is not uncommon for relatively severe radiological changes to be present. Coughing may develop as the disease advances and in the later stages may be long and stressful. In the early stages of the disease there is usually very little sputum, but as the disease advances, recurrent bronchial infections occur and sputum becomes common. Dypsnea is perhaps the most significant problem of established Silicosis and this is usually associated with massive changes within the lungs and contraction of lobes.
Respiratory failure is the most important consequence of complicated Silicosis.
In accelerated Silicosis, the major features of the disease are identical, but changes occur more quickly. The x-ray changes of silicosis provide in many cases the definitive diagnosis. Classically rounded nodules are the basic elements but in complicated forms, massive densities predominate. There is no treatment for Silicosis, and previous treatments of miners with inhalation of aluminum dust have not been effective. In fact, aluminum dust itself may be fibrogenic.