Mollusc shell HP

Category

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Acute/Chronic

Chronic

Synonyms

Shell lung

Comments

Acute presentation: flu-like illness with cough;
Subacute: recurrent "pneumonia";
Chronic: exertional dyspnea, productive cough, and weight loss;
Workers are exposed while sawing and grinding mollusc shells to make nacre (mother-of-pearl) buttons. The suspected antigen is aquatic animal proteins. [Rom, p. 390] See "Hypersensitivity pneumonitis."

Latency/Incubation

Weeks to years until "sensitized"; acute symptoms 4-12 hours after exposure;

Diagnostic

Clinical; Chest x-ray; HRCT; Pulmonary function testing; BAL; Lung biopsy;

ICD-9 Code

495.8

ICD-10 Code

J67.8

IDdx Link

Job Tasks

High risk job tasks associated with this disease:

• Produce nacre buttons from mollusc shells

Agents

Hazardous agents that cause the occupational disease:

• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis antigens
• Nacre (mother-of-pearl)