The nurse is caring for a patient with accelerated silicosis. With this type of silicosis, the nurse would expect:

Explanation

•Accelerated silicosis: Rapidly progessing symptoms and x-ray changes.

•Simple silicosis: The patient was exposed to low concentrations of silica and is usually asymptomatic. Abnormalities are often detected on x-ray.

•Complicated silicosis: Severe scarring and fibrosis of the lung tissue.

•Acute silicosis: Develops within a few years after exposure to silica dust. Characterized by rapid onset of dypnea, cough, and weight loss. X-ray reveals a ground-glass appearance.

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