Abstract
Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by exposure to
crystalline quartz particles, leading to lung inflammation and scarring.
Pulmonary tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused byMycobacterium tuberculosis , primarily affecting the lungs.
Silicosis increases the risk of developing tuberculosis in high-burden
settings. We present the case of a 40-year-old smoker male, with a
history of stone crushing for 10 years, who presented to the emergency
department with dyspnea and cough which increased progressively for the
past nine months with sputum production. All pulmonary TB patients
should have their sputum examined by microscopy to determine if they are
infectious or not but in this case the sputum examination is negative,
posing a diagnostic challenge and previously diagnosed as active TB
based on X-ray abnormalities and clinical findings and had a full course
of TB treatment. This case emphasizes the difficulty in differentiating
silicosis from tuberculosis, as tuberculosis can mask the symptoms and
radiological features of silicosis. Thus, a comprehensive occupational
history, clinical features, and radiological evaluation are crucial for
an accurate diagnosis.