Bagassosis

Bagassosis
Classification and external resources
Specialty pulmonology
ICD-10 J67.1
ICD-9-CM 495.1
DiseasesDB 29637
MeSH D011009

Bagassosis, an interstitial lung disease, is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis attributed to exposure to moldy molasses (bagasse).[1][2]

History

Bagassosis was first reported in India by Ganguly and Pal in 1955, in a cardboard manufacturing plant near Kolkata. India has a large canesugar industry. The sugarcane fibre which, until recently, went to waste, is now utilised in the manufacture of cardboard, paper and rayon.

Etiology

Bagassosis has been shown to be due to a thermophilic actinomycetes for which the name thermoactinomycetes sacchari was suggested.

Symptoms and signs

Some symptoms and signs of Bagassosis include breathlessness, cough, haemoptysis, slight fever. Acute diffuse bronchiolitis may also occur. An xray may show mottling of lungs or a shadow.

Preventive measures

The following are precautionary measures that can be taken to avoid the spread of bagassosis:

  1. Dust control-prevention /suppression of dust such as wet process, enclosed apparatus, exhaust ventilation etc. should be used
  2. Personal protection- masks/ respirators
  3. Medical control- initial medical examination & periodical checkups of workers
  4. Bagasse control- keep moisture content above 20% and spray bagasse with 2% propionic acid[3]

References

  1. Hur, T; Cheng KC; Yang GY (October 1994). "Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: bagassosis". Gaoxiong Yi Xue Ke Xue Za Zhi 10 (10): 558–564. PMID 7807612.
  2. Ueda A, Aoyama K, Ueda T; et al. (July 1992). "Recent trends in bagassosis in Japan". Br J Ind Med 49 (7): 499–506. doi:10.1136/oem.49.7.499. PMC 1039272. PMID 1637710.
  3. Park's textbook of preventive & social medicine 21st edition page-747
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