Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis or farmer’s lung or bird fancier's lung as commonly known is a disease more common in farming relates workers. It is caused by inhaling dust resulting from crops such as straw, hay, corn, tobacco etc.
Cause
Inhalation of these allergic dusts causes inflammation and scarring in the air sacs and their supporting parts of the lung. This sort of scarring and inflammation results in lowered blood oxygen level.
Many occupational substances such as silica (sand) dust, asbestos, coal dust, and cotton dust can cause lung disease. People who work in industries with heavy exposures to known causes of occupational lung disease (for example, coal miners, sand-blasters, ship workers) are usually screened routinely for lung disease.
Occasionally, bird keeping or bathing in hot tubs cause some forms of Alveolitis.
working in the following condition are most likely to cause alveolitis:
- Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, cultivation of edible fungi or malt-working
- Loading or unloading or handling in storage mouldy vegetable matter or edible fungi
- Caring for or handling birds
- Handling baggage
Symptom
The symptoms of alveolitis depending on level of exposure to dust particles could vary. Usually if the level of exposure was mild and over a short period a person might see these symptoms; shortness of breath, dry cough, feeling unwell.
If exposure to these dusts was for a long period of time, there is chance that the lung could become permanently damaged and the risk could be fatal.
Prevention
Health and Safety measures at work, avoiding pastimes which provoke the illness, adequate maintenance of hot tubs/indoor swimming pools and humidifiers. Avoid exposure to agents that are known to cause Lung Disease. |
