Industrial bronchitis is swelling (inflammation) of the large airways of the lungs that occurs in some people who work around certain dusts, fumes, smoke, or other substances.
The purpose of treatment is to reduce the irritation.
Getting more air into the workplace or wearing masks to filter out the offending air particles may help. Some cases of industrial bronchitis go away without treatment. Other times, a person may need inhaled anti-inflammatory medications.
If you are at risk or have experienced this problem and you smoke, stop smoking.
The outcome may be good as long as you can stop being exposed to the irritant. Chronic disability from industrial bronchitis is rare.
Complications
Continued exposure to irritating gases, fumes, or other substances could lead to permanent lung damage.
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if you are regularly exposed to dusts, fumes, strong acids, or other chemicals that can affect the lungs and you develop symptoms of bronchitis.
Prevention
Control dust in industrial settings by wearing face masks and protective clothing, and treating textiles.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (7 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:.Chronic bronchitis, which causes long-term swelling and a large amount of mucus in the main airways in the lungs Emph...Reviewer: Benjamin Medoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/24/2008
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Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs. Bronchitis may be short-lived(acute) or chronic, meaning that it lasts a long time and often recurs.See also: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Acute bronchitis general...Reviewer: Benjamin Medoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/24/2008
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The lungs have two primary functions: to acquire oxygen from the air, which is required for life, and to remove carbon dioxide from the body. Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of many of the chemical reactions that sustain life.During breathing, air e...Reviewer: Andrew Schriber, MD, FCCP. Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 10/18/2008
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