Desert Lung Syndrome, in rural dwellers of the Thar Desert, India

‘Desert Lung Syndrome’ has occasionally been reported from desert areas in various countries. It denotes non-occupational silicosis in rural desert dwellers. Subjects attending the District TB Clinic, Jodhpur in the Thar desert of India, were screened for it. X-rays of their chest were taken at 300 mA, and read using the International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconiosis. Radiographs of five subjects showed opacities suggestive of pneumoconiosis. However, none of them was ever engaged in any occupation which can predispose pneumoconiosis.