Silicosis

Silicosis is a disease that is caused by small particles of silica (glass) getting trapped in the lungs. When people have silicosis, the changes in their body often are cyanosis, a fever, or being not able to breathe properly. Sometimes doctors do not realize that someone has silicosis, and think that they have other illnesses like pneumonia, tuberculosis or fluid in the lungs.

It was first noticed in 1705 by Bernardino Ramazzini (an Italian doctor). He saw something that looked like sand in the lungs of stonecutters. The name silicosis is from Visconti in 1870. The name comes from the Latin silex which means flint.

 Related pages 
Pneumoconiosis
Asbestosis

 Other websites 
 "Preventing Silicosis" (not simple English)

Category:Breathing problems