Differential Diagnoses For Berylliosis
Berylliosis is a type of poisoning caused by the implantation of a toxic substance called beryllium into an individual's skin, or by the inhalation of beryllium vapors or dust. Berylliosis is a disease that is most often the result of occupational exposure to the metallic element of which is utilized in high-technology ceramic, electronic, dental alloy preparation, and metal extraction industries. Symptoms that occur in individuals affected by both acute and chronic berylliosis include breathing difficulties, sore throat, coughing, rhinitis, runny nose, chest pain, fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, lymph node enlargement, and tracheobronchitis. Most symptoms that manifest in berylliosis patients branch from the effects of severe lung damage resulting from the widespread inflammation caused by exposure to the toxin beryllium. There are numerous other diseases and disorders with similar manifestations to berylliosis that should be considered prior to diagnosis.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes an affected individual's airways to swell, become narrowed, and produce excess mucus. While symptoms vary from case to case, they may resemble those that occur in individuals who have berylliosis. Usually, an allergen is responsible for this abnormal mechanism that occurs in those with asthma. Asthma can be situational with flare-ups only occurring under certain conditions such as in certain climates, at the workplace, or around pet dander. Without proper medical intervention with medication, an asthma attack can become serious and life-threatening to the affected individual. There is no cure for asthma, but the condition can be controlled and managed by careful monitoring and taking certain precautions. Some of the symptoms of berylliosis are also characteristic of those in individuals who have asthma. These manifestations include situational breathlessness, coughing attacks, difficulty with breathing, chest pain, and tightness in the chest.
Uncover another differential diagnosis for berylliosis now.
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disorder that produces various symptoms that also occur in berylliosis patients. It is a disorder that happens when small nodules abnormally develop in specific organs throughout the affected individual's body. The cause of sarcoidosis is not clear, but it is known to be associated with the patient's immune system responding abnormally to an unknown substance. Numerous chemicals, infectious agents, dust, and an inappropriate reaction to specific proteins in the body are thought to be possible triggers for this reaction by the immune system. The most common organ in the body to be affected by sarcoidosis is the individual's lungs. The nodules made up of granular white blood cells from the immune system form in the individual's lungs, and they interfere with the normal function and structure of the lung and its parts. The symptoms of sarcoidosis are tightly associated with the organ and organ systems of which the nodules develop. General symptoms that mimic those of berylliosis include fatigue, weight loss, dry cough, breathlessness, enlarged lymph nodes, and chest pain.
Get to know more differential diagnoses for berylliosis now.
