Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Created | Updated Aug 6, 2007
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicavolcanoconiosis1 is a form of the illness pneumoconiosis caused by the inhalation of a fine silica dust found in most volcanoes. It is also the longest word in the dictionaries of Random House, Websters and Oxford, beating Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Floccinaucinihilipilification and antidisestablishmentarianism. Some people believe the word is a hoax; others disagree.
The Word
Etymology
pneumono-: Greek - 'lung', 'lung-related'ultra: Latin - 'beyond'
micro-: Greek - 'small'
scopic: Greek - 'looking'
silico: Latin - 'like sand'
volcano: Latin - volcano
konis: Greek - 'dust'
osis: Greek - 'condition'
Pronounciation
NOO-muh-noh-uhl-truh-mahy-kruh-skop-ik-SIL-i-koh-vol-kay-noh-koh-nee-OH-siss
The hoax
There is a theory that the word is a hoax created by the National Puzzlers League. At the 103rd meeting of the National Puzzlers League in Hotel New Yorker in 1935 Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis succeded electrophotomicrographically as the English language's longest word. The puzzlers claimed the word was an illness caused by ultra microscopic silica dust, but there is no record of medical literature containing the word. Which is why the word is suspected as a hoax.
The Disease
Types of Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
There are four types of Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis chronic,asymptomatic, acute and accelerated. The Chronic form is the most common and devlops after being exposed to low levels of silica dust for 20 years or longer.
Pathology
When the dust is inhaled its embeds itself in the alveolar sacs and ducts where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. When the white blood cells respond they release a series of cytokines which stimulate fibroblasts and result in fibrosis.
The dust can also create silicon-based radicals which release compounds that damage surrounding cells such as hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl and oxygen radicals.
Symptoms
Its Symptoms are similar to those of the common cold not including those which affect the nose and head. They can include faster breathing, severe coughing, a hoarse throat, loss of appetite, chest pain and more susceptibility to tuberculosis.
Cure
There is no cure for the disease and there is no chance of recovering but there are somethings which can alleiviate the symptoms.
Making sure you are not in exposure to other lung damaging particles.
Taking cough suppressants.
Taking antibiotics and antitubercular agents to make sure tuberculosis does not develop.
Doing physiotherapy for the chest.
Lung transplantation.
