Byssinosis

Disease should be suspected in patients who work or have worked in the textile industry and is carrying a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

SYMPTOMS

Very special is the mode of onset of the disease which has called dyspnea Monday.

Indeed, it is Monday morning, just hours after returning to work, as manifested tightness, difficulty breathing with cough and malaise.

These signs disappear at the end of the day.

Several stages of the disease have been described:

1) the phenomenon occasionally occurs on Monday,

2) breathing occurs every Monday

3) then gradually other days are concerned, first Tuesday, then the other days of the week,

4) and the difficulty of breathing effort is permanent, reflecting chronic respiratory failure associated with bronchial obstruction.

The EXPLORATIONS FUNCTIONAL RESPIRATORY objectify bronchial obstruction. FEV (forced expiratory volume in one second) is decreased: the peak flow also.

CAUSES

Byssinosis is mainly related to the cotton industry, especially during the preliminary operations (opening bullets, beating, carding, drawing), less often for weaving and for the manufacture of cotton and felt.

The statistics in the Vosges show after 20 years of exposure, one in five suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Byssinosis is also observed in the industry flax, hemp and sisal.

Currently, there seems to incriminate the role of endotoxins produced by gram-negative bacteria (gram -) that are contained in the fibers of cotton.

The role of smoking in the work seems to be an aggravating factor.

This disease is now classified as occupational diseases and is entitled to compensation.

PREVENTION

Reducing hazardous empoussiérages requires good ventilation and ventilatory extraction workshops.