Causes of Respiratory
Diseases in Modern Era
Table Of Contents
No#
Contents
1
Pg
No#
Respiratory Diseases
Sarcoidosis
 Causes
 Treatment
3
3
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
 Causes
 Treatment
3
4
Asbestosis
 Causes
 Treatment
4
5
Byssinosis
 Causes
 Treatment
4
6
Pulmonary fibrosis
 Causes
 Treatment
4
7
Pertussis
 Causes
 Treatment
5
8
Silicosis
 Causes
 Treatment
5
9
References
7
2
2
Causes of Respiratory Diseases in Modern Era
3
Respiratory disease:
Respiratory diseases is a medical term that encompasses pathological conditions affecting
the organs and tissues that make gas exchange possible in higher organisms.
Respiratory diseases range from mild and self-limiting, such as the common cold, to lifethreatening entities like bacterial pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and lung cancer.
The study of respiratory disease is known as pulmonology. A doctor who specializes in
respiratory disease is known as a pulmonologist.
 Sarcoidosis:
Sarcoidosis is a disease caused by small areas of inflammation. In pulmonary sarcoidosis,
small patches of inflamed cells can appear on the lungs' small air sacs (alveoli), breathing
tubes (bronchioles) or lymph nodes. The lungs can become stiff and may not be able to hold
as much air as healthy lungs.
Causes of Sarciodosis:




Genetic disorders may involve spreading this disease.
Abnormal immune system.
Infectious agents such as propionibacterium acnes can be
found in bronchoalveolar lavage of approximately 70%
patients and is associated with disease activity.
Sarcoidosis frequently causes an increase in vitamin D
production outside the kidney.
Treatment:



Follow your healthcare provider's directions.
Stay away from dust and chemicals that can harm the lungs.
Pay attention to the air quality forecast of area. Follow precautions for Orange and
Red days, when pollution levels are dangerous for anyone with lung disease.
 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS):
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the sudden failure of the respiratory
(breathing) system. It can develop in anyone over the age of 1 who is critically ill. A person
with ARDS has rapid breathing, difficulty getting enough air into the lungs and low blood
oxygen levels.
Causes of ARDS:
ARDS cause by following:
 Sepsis (bacterial infection of the blood)
 Trauma
 Pneumonia or other lung infection
 Multiple blood transfusions
 Breathing in salt water
 Breathing in harmful smoke or fumes
3
Causes of Respiratory Diseases in Modern Era


Breathing vomit into the lungs
Narcotics
Treatment:
Treatments may include:
 Oxygen through tubes in your nose or through a mask
 Oxygen through breathing tube which goes through your mouth or nose into your
windpipe. The tube is connected to a ventilator, a machine that helps you breathe.
 Fluids through an IV line to improve your blood flow and to provide nutrition
 Medicine to prevent and treat infections and to relieve pain
 Asbestosis:
Asbestos contains a microscopic fibers cause disease, including
cancer.
Causes of asbestosis:
Asbestosis may be cause by:
 Asbestos mining
 Milling industries
 Construction
 Fireproofing
Treatment:
Treatments may include:
 Aerosol medications to thin secretions
 Oxygen by mask or by a plastic piece that fits into the nostrils
 Lung transplantation
 Byssinosis:
Byssinosis (brown lung disease) is a lung disease. The small
airways become blocked, severely harming lung function.
Causes of Byssinosis:
The disease may be caused by:
 Dusts from cotton processing
 Hemp and flax.
Treatment:



Change job to avoid more exposed to disease.
Prescribe medications such as bronchodilators to improve symptoms.
Chronic byssinosis may be treated with respiratory treatments, including
nebulizers.
 Pulmonary fibrosis:
Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease marked by scarring in the lungs. The scarring is called
fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred, it interferes with a person's ability to breathe.
4
Causes of Respiratory Diseases in Modern Era
Causes of Pulmonary fibrosis:
The disease may be cause by:
 Cigarette smoking
 Certain viral infections
 Exposure to environmental pollutants, including silica and
hard metal dusts, bacteria and animal proteins, and gases
and fumes
 The use of certain medicines
 Genetic problems
Treatment:



Doctor may prescribe prednisone to reduce inflammation. Prednisone is a
corticosteroid. It can have serious side effects, which suppress the immune
system.
Oxygen therapy may be prescribed if the amount of oxygen in blood gets low.
Lung transplant may be recommended in such cases.
 Pertussis:
Pertussis is known as whooping cough. It is a serious, very contagious
disease that causes severe, uncontrollable coughing fits. The coughing
makes it difficult to breathe and often ends with a "whoop" noise.
Causes of Pertussis:
It is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person when an
infected person sneezes or coughs.
Treatment:

Cough syrups and drops will not work on pertussis so doctor may prescribe
antibiotics, fluids given through a vein (intravenously), and/or an oxygen tent with
high humidity.
 Silicosis:
Silicosis is a lung disease that is caused by inhaling tiny bits of silica.
Silica is a common mineral that is part of sand, rock and mineral ores
like quartz. It is a chronic disease and cannot be cured.
Causes of Silicosis:
Causes may include:
 Highway and bridge construction and repair
 Building construction, demolition, and repair
 Abrasive blasting
 Masonry work
 Concrete finishing
5
Causes of Respiratory Diseases in Modern Era



Rock drilling
Mining
Sand and gravel screening
Treatment:


Healthcare provider may prescribe cough medicine, bronchodilators (medications
that helps to open airways to help breathe more easily), and oxygen.
To keep the disease from getting worse, it is important to stay away from any
additional sources of silica and other lung irritants.
 References:
6

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/respiratory+disease

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_diseases

http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/sarcoidosis/symptoms-diagnosis.html

http://www.medicinenet.com/sarcoidosis/page2.htm#3whogetss

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcoidosis

http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome/

http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/asbestosis/understanding-asbestosis.html

http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/byssinosis/

http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/pulmonary-fibrosis/

http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/pertussis/

http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/silicosis/understanding-silicosis.html
Causes of Respiratory Diseases in Modern Era