Disease or Syndrome
byssinosis Audio
bys·si·no·sis [ bis-uh-noh-sis ]
Subclass of:
Pneumoconiosis
Definitions related to byssinosis:
  • A condition of BRONCHOCONSTRICTION resulting from hypersensitive reaction to inhaled dust during the initial processing of cotton, flax, or hemp in the textile industry. Symptoms include wheezing and tightness in the chest.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Airway obstruction due to the dust inhaled during the processing of cotton.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • An occupational lung disorder caused by exposure to cotton dust. It occurs more commonly in workers in the textile industry. Signs and symptoms include chest tightness, cough and wheezing. The symptoms tend to get worse at the beginning of the week and subside by the end of the week.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Byssinosis is a form of reactive airways disease characterized by bronchoconstriction that occurs in cotton, flax, and hemp workers. The etiologic agent is bacterial endotoxin in cotton dust. Symptoms are chest tightness and dyspnea that worsen on the first day of the work week and subside as the week progresses. Diagnosis is based on...
    Merck Manuals
    Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
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