A textile worker has chronic exposure to cotton dust for 15 years. He describes tight chest and breathlessness every Monday morning upon returning to work, which improves by mid-week. This classic symptom pattern is diagnostic of:

• A Byssinosis ✓
• B Occupational asthma
• C Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis)
• D Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (cotton-induced)

Explanation

Byssinosis (Monday fever or brown lung disease) is the occupational lung disease caused by cotton, flax, or hemp dust, characterised by the pathognomonic 'Monday fever' or 'Monday tightness' — chest tightness and breathlessness that are worst on the first day back at work (Monday) after a weekend break, improving by mid-week as workers develop tolerance. In Grade I byssinosis this pattern recurs regularly; in Grade II it persists all week. This distinguishes it from occupational asthma (worsens at end of work day) and EAA (presents 4–8 hours after exposure as flu-like illness).

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.