After exposed to dry dust, I started getting hoarse voice, and inflamed vocal cords. What can I do?

Question

Hi doctor,

16 months ago, I was exposed to fine dust from dry grinding/polishing of concrete (indoors) where I work. This went on for two workdays. My voice became coarse right away, and a cough started. Now, 16 months later, throat still irritated, voice is somewhat coarse. I have to clear my throat a lot. Still I have some cough. I saw an ENT a year ago, who said my vocal cords are wrong color and inflamed. I am still feeling the effects 16 months later. What do you think? What should I expect? What can I do? Will I get cancer? Please give me you are honest opinion. I am a nonsmoker.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I doubt very much that cancer is high on the concern list. So I would start by addressing gastroesophageal reflux disease since you are of an age when this starts, you have a chronic throat clearing cough (almost diagnostic for GERD), you are a nonsmoker, and have had your vocal cords looked at and no mass or ulceration was seen at the time. Bear in mind, if you follow my GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) recommendations and I am correct in the diagnosis, it might take up to four months before your cough and hoarseness resolve. Be patient with the process.

Answer 2

I understand your concern. However, from what I understand, you had two days total exposure and wore a mask. It is doubtful that you got over 50 mcg/day. (To get silicosis, you must have that dose over many, many days as I understand it, not just two days. But I don't know if there is an established "dose " to get silicosis.) Additionally, your main complaint is hoarseness and not pulmonary complaints. A simple chest X-ray at your primary care doctor's office or clinic or through your work would show silicosis, which does have an increased risk for cancer and also tuberculosis. So a simple TB test could also alleviate your fears. As far as cancer goes, the cancer associated with silicosis is pulmonary in origin, not on the vocal cord (the area that would give you hoarseness). The hoarseness persisting despite just 2 days exposure is likely that it was just enough irritation to "kick-off" the hoarseness that was "almost there already" from your GERD...It usually takes longstanding GERD plus some other new factor to initiate the hoarseness...after it gets started, the GERD alone can keep it going. So...treat the GERD and really follow my recommendations and see if it doesn't clear up in the next 4 months or so....