Whats the difference between Pulmonary fibrosis and anthraco

What\'s the difference between Pulmonary fibrosis and anthracosis?

Solution

The difference between pulmonary fibrosis and anthracosis are as follows - :

i)The pulmonary fibrosis is a respiratory disease and this results in scars formation in the lung tissues while anthracosis also known as black lung disease is a chronic lung disease results in black decoloration of bronchial mucosa that can occlude bronchial lumen.

ii) The cause for pulmonary fibrosis is exposure of environmental pollutants include inorganic dust (silica and hard metal dust) and organic dust ( bacteria and animal protein) on the other hand the main cause for anthracosis is dust and wood smoke.

iii) The symptoms for pulmonary fibrosis involved shortness of breath, dry cough, fatigue, aching muscle and joints and the symptoms for anthracosis are shortness of breath, obstruction of airways, severe cough.

iv) The diagnosis for pulmonary fibrosis can be confirmed by biopsy while anthracosis can be diagnosed through chest x-ray and pulmonary function test.

v) The treatment given for pulmonary fibrosis are corticosteroids and physical therapy while the treatment given for anthracosis involve oxygen therapy and corticosteroids.

However both the disease pulmonary fibrosis and anthracosis are non curable.