Silicosis and silicotuberculosis among respiratory hospital admissions: a cross-sectional survey in northern Tanzania
Author(s)
Dennis, E
Mussa, H
Sanga, MP
Howlett, P
Nyakunga, G
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background. There is little evidence describing respiratory disease among 40.5 million small-scale miners worldwide.Objectives. To describe the prevalence and clinical characteristics of adult respiratory inpatients with silicosis and silicotuberculosis ina tertiary hospital in Tanzania that serves a small-scale mining region.Methods. In this retrospective, cross-sectional survey, patient files from admissions between 2010 and 2020 were opportunistically selected and included if a respiratory diagnosis had been made.Results. Of 223 patients with respiratory conditions, 32 (14.3%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 10.0 - 19.6) were diagnosed with silicosisand 17 (7.6%; 95% CI 4.5 - 11.9) with silicotuberculosis. Mining was the most frequent occupation in those with silicosis (n=15/32; 46.9%) and silicotuberculosis (n=15/17; 88.2%). Of those with silicosis or silicotuberculosis, 26/49 (53.1%) were aged <45 years.Conclusion. Our study suggests that silicosis and silicotuberculosis are common among male and female respiratory inpatients withoccupational exposure. The study highlights the role of occupational exposures in respiratory disease in developing economies.
Date Issued
2023-09-19
Date Acceptance
2023-05-28
Citation
African Journal of Thoracic and Critical Care Medicine, 2023, 29 (3), pp.118-121
ISSN
2617-0191
Publisher
South African Medical Association NPC
Start Page
118
End Page
121
Journal / Book Title
African Journal of Thoracic and Critical Care Medicine
Volume
29
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2023. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Attribution-Non Commercial International Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY-NC 4.0) License. Under this license, authors agree to make articles available to users, without permission or fees, for any lawful, non-commercial purpose. Users may read, copy, or re-use published content as long as the author and original place of publication are properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37970570
Subjects
Silicosis
mining
tuberculosis
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
South Africa
Date Publish Online
2023-09-19