Signs and Symptoms of Asbestosis

Symptoms associated with asbestosis may show up between 10 and 30 years after the initial exposure, and rarely occur less than 10 years after first exposure. A sufferer of asbestosis will experience shortness of breath and a persistent cough. Other common symtoms include pains in the chest, a tightness of the chest, a general feeling of being unwell and loss of apetite.

A medical examination by a GP will reveail basal crackles, small irregular opacities on an x-ray, reduced lung volumes/capacities.

Treatment
Their is no cure for asbestosis,treatment is focussed on treating the diseases symptoms. Any respiritory infection must be treated aggresively with anti-biotics, vaccinations for flu should be kept up to date. The patient should undergo regular chest x-rays to check for cancers associated with the disease.

See Also

Causes of asbestosis
Asbestosis compensation claims