Why Is It So Difficult to Diagnose Silicosis in the U.S.?

For every one reported case of silicosis in an engineered stone worker, there are likely several unreported cases.  This happens for several reasons.  First, even when they make the diagnosis, doctors are not required to report silicosis to health authorities, and therefore due to HIPPA, the typically not.  Second, most treating doctors mis-diagnosis silicosis as pneumonia, asthma, COPD, or the flu.  Third, an chest x-ray often not sensitive enough, and must be reviewed by one of the few NIOSH certified B-readers rather than a regular radiologist.  A CT scan and pulmonary function test is required, and usually not performed.  And, this all assumes that the worker even goes to the doctor in the first place.  Many of the effective workers in the U.S. have undocumented status and therefore are afraid to go to the doctor.  For many, this is a silent killer since only their family knows they have died, and they don’t ever know why.

Contact us today if you have been diagnosed with silicosis.