NEET PG High-Yield: Occupational Diseases
Occupational diseases are specific health conditions caused by long-term exposure to hazardous working conditions.
Pneumoconiosis (Dust Diseases)
| Disease | Agent | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Silicosis | Free Silica | Eggshell calcification of hilar nodes. |
| Asbestosis | Asbestos fibers | Mesothelioma, Pleural plaques. |
| Byssinosis | Cotton dust | Monday Morning Fever (Chest tightness). |
| Anthracosis | Coal dust | Black lung disease. |
Other Key Occupational Conditions
- Lead Poisoning: Burtonian line (blue line on gums), Basophilic stippling, Microcytic anemia.
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: Initial dip at 4,000 Hz (C5-dip) on audiometry.
- Decompression Sickness: “The Bends”; common in deep-sea divers due to nitrogen bubble formation.
- Vibration Syndrome: “Dead fingers” or Raynaud’s phenomenon due to vibrating tools.
High-Yield NEET PG Pearls:
- Silico-tuberculosis: Silicosis patients have a significantly increased risk of developing pulmonary TB.
- Caplan’s Syndrome: Rheumatoid arthritis + Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis.
- Criteria for Occupational Disease: Must demonstrate a clear **causal relationship** between the workplace agent and the disease (Bradford Hill criteria).
- Biological Monitoring: Assessing exposure by measuring the agent or its metabolites in biological samples (e.g., blood lead levels).