Symptoms:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Nodules of the skin (rheumatoid nodules)
• Joint swelling and pain

Signs and tests:

Your health care provider will take a detailed medical history that will include questions about your jobs (past and present) and other possible sources of exposure to mining dust. The health care provider will also do a physical exam, paying special attention to the presence of joint and skin disease.

Other tests can include:

• Chest x-ray
• Joint x-rays
• Pulmonary function tests
• Rheumatoid factor titer test