What is brown lung disease?

Brown lung disease, or byssinosis, is a reactive airway disease that leads to airway obstruction as a result of exposure to cotton dust (brack), flax and hemp. It is a type of occupational lung disease that is more commonly seen in cotton workers,  those working in flax mills and textile workers.

In the acute stages it may cause recurrent episodes of bronchiolitis (bronchioles ~ small airways) with no ongoing signs and symptoms if the person discontinues working in the environment. At this stage it is known as acute byssinosis. Like other occupational lung diseases, the permanent damage is seen 20 to 30 years after exposure where it is known as chronic byssinosis.

Causes of Byssinosis

Although byssinosis is more frequently seen in textile/fabric workers and is known to be associated with cotton, flax or  hemp, the actual cause is not clearly understood. It is believed that byssinosis may be a result of exposure to endotoxins from bacteria in the cotton. It is sometimes mistaken for occupational asthma. Byssinosis does not affect every textile worker and is more frequently seen in those who are cigarette smokers.

continue reading Brown Lung Disease (Byssinosis) Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

What are Pubic or Crab Lice?

Pubic lice or crab lice infestation  is caused by the insect Phthiriasis pubis which clings to the pubic hairs. Pubic lice infestation is also known as phthiriasis or pediculosis pubis. The common term is crabs. Pubic lice are parasitic insects which differ in appearance from head lice and body lice. It looks like tiny crabs, hence the name “crab lice”.

The lice have 3 pairs of legs, the middle and hind legs are stout, while the front pair is large and looks like the claws of a crab. The claws help the louse to cling onto clothing or to the coarse pubic hairs. While the l usually infest the pubic hair,  it may also be found on the eyebrows, eyelashes, armpits, chest hair, and facial hair. In rare cases, the scalp hair may be involved. While African-Americans are rarely affected by a head lice infestation, they are just as prone as any other race group to pubic lice infesting the scalp hair.

The lice feed on human blood and remain fixed at its feeding sites for long periods. It is not as fast-moving as head lice.

continue reading Pubic Lice (Crabs) Facts on Transmission, Life Span, Infestation

What is occupational asthma?

Occupational asthma is a type of chronic inflammatory disease of the airways associated with allergens or irritants in the workplace that leads to reduced air flow through the respiratory passages. It is a type of asthma that should be considered in adult asthmatics, especially if the asthma commenced or recurred when working in a specific environment.

Unlike the many other occupational respiratory diseases, like silicosis and asbestosis, some cases of occupational asthma may not have developed entirely in the work environment but exposure to certain irritants or allergens simply caused a recurrence of a pre-existing condition. Discontinuing work or avoiding exposure to trigger factors may allow the condition to resolve spontaneously, without any treatment in some cases, or drastically reduce the severity of the asthma. In chronic cases, particularly severe and poorly controlled cases, there may be lung remodeling with life-long implications.

continue reading Occupational Asthma (Workplace Induced) Types, Symptoms, Causes

Bronchial asthma is a narrowing of the airways most commonly due to an immune-mediated hypersensitivity. As a result of swelling of the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles, excess mucus production and most importantly the contraction of the wall muscles, the bronchoconstriction leads to a reduced air inflow. This contributes to the typical presentation of breathlessness with or without wheezing. Based on the frequency and intensity of symptoms, asthma may be classified as :

• intermittent
• mild persistent
• moderate persistent
• severe persistent

continue reading Asthma Symptoms and Signs of Asthmatic Attacks

What are Lice?

Lice are tiny gray-brown insects that live, grow, and feed on humans as parasites. It feeds on the host’s blood by piercing the skin of the host with its narrow anterior mouth parts. Lice may spread from one person to another through close contact or by sharing personal items and clothing. Dogs, cats, or other household pets are not involved in the transmission of human lice.

The most common type of lice infestation is head lice. Head lice infestation, though extremely unpleasant and embarrassing, does not help in spreading other diseases, or cause serious health problems. Lice infestation should be treated aggressively so as to get rid of the problem as well as to prevent recurrence.

continue reading Head Lice – Life Cycle, Types, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention