Clinical meaning
Occupational Lung Disease involves alterations in airway structure, gas exchange, or pulmonary vascular function. Occupational Lung Disease pathophysiology includes changes in ventilation-perfusion matching, airway resistance, and pulmonary compliance.
Diagnosis & workup
Diagnostics & workup: - ABG: pH, PaCO2, PaO2, HCO3, A-a gradient calculation - Procalcitonin for bacterial vs viral pneumonia differentiation - Thoracentesis with Light criteria for pleural effusion classification - CT pulmonary angiography for PE evaluation - Chest X-ray PA and lateral (infiltrates, hyperinflation, effusions) - Sputum culture, Gram stain, and AFB stain - CT chest high-resolution for interstitial/parenchymal disease
Risk factors: - Occupational dust/chemical exposure (asbestos, silica, coal) - Cystic fibrosis genotype (CFTR mutations) - Prematurity with bronchopulmonary dysplasia history - Childhood asthma with persistent airway hyperreactivity - Indoor air pollution and biomass fuel exposure - Immunocompromised state increasing pneumonia susceptibility - Family history of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency