Jargon Buster

A few medical terms explained 

Asbestosis: a disease of the main lung tissue caused by inhaling asbestos fibres 

Byssinosis: a disease of the main lung tissue caused by inhaling asbestos fibres 

Diffuse Pleural Thickening: a disease of the lung lining, sometimes caused by inhaling asbestos fibres 

Emphysema: a lung disease that often occurs along with chronic bronchitis 

Mesothelioma: a tumour of the tissues, usually covering a lung, nearly always caused by inhaling asbestos fibres 

Pneumoconiosis: a lung disease caused by inhaling certain irritant substances 

Silicosis: a type of pneumoconiosis 

Vibration White Finger: a condition in which the fingers can become numb and begin to turn white – often caused by prolonged use of vibrating tools or machinery 

Tenosynovitis: inflammation of a tendon (the tissue that connects muscle to bone) and the tissue surrounding it 

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI): a term used to refer to a range of injuries caused by carrying out certain movements repeatedly 

Dermatitis: inflammation of the skin. There are various types and the condition can have many different causes 

The HSE Infoline can provide a full list of reportable diseases under the 2013 RIDDOR regulations.