Introduction

Patients with a history of asbestos exposure will vary widely in their clinical condition. Some will be asymptomatic and will continue to be so for life. Some will be beginning to show signs of asbestos-associated disease, and others will have more established disease. The care you provide will depend on the clinical status of the patient. All patients exposed to asbestos, however, need some basic guidance on

• self-care, so they can minimize further risks and avoid complications to the extent possible
• clinical follow up, so they understand when and why to return for further medical attention

Self Care

Patients should be advised to avoid exposures and conditions that might further increase their risk of disease or worsen their existing condition (see table).

Clinical Follow Up

Patients should be advised to consult their physicians if they have

• any sign or symptom of respiratory infection
• signs or symptoms of other health changes (especially those possibly related to an asbestos-associated disease).

ATSDR's patient education sheet on asbestos toxicity [PDF - 30 KB] has a more detailed checklist that you can use to determine which types of follow-up are relevant for a given patient.

Progress Check