[Charcoal smoke causes bronchial anthracosis and COPD].

BACKGROUND

Bronchopulmonary disease due to inhalation of smoke from open woodfires represents a major health problem in developing countries. Due to increasing migration such patients also present to medical services in Europe.

METHODS

An 84-year-old Afghan housewife who never smoked nor has a history of exposure to inorganic dusts, presents with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in association with bronchial anthracosis and stenosis of a bronchus. The complaints are found to be caused by chronic inhalation of smoke from an open woodfire which was used for cooking. The main complaints of "woodsmoke-associated lung disease" are cough und dyspnea with bronchial obstruction. Radiology and bronchoscopy usually reveal changes which are similar to pneumoconiosis of miners but without patients' relevant exposure. There is a frequent association of anthracotic bronchial stenosis and infection with tuberculosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Since patients rarely recognize the risks of woodsmoke inhalation, they hardly report their exposure. Thus, the anamnesis is crucial to establish the right diagnosis and guide the patient to the appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.