Farmer's Lung

Symptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More

Farmer's lung is a disease caused by an allergic reaction to breathing in mold and dust form crops such as hay, straw, corn, animal feeds, grains or tobacco. It is not infectious or contagious.

Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis, Hypersensitivity Alveolitis, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

People can get Farmer's Lung by breathing in mold or dust containing the spores of particular types of bacteria or molds. The common bacteria found on damp and moldy crops are Micropolyspora faeni and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, and along with molds called Aspergillus, are the major causes of Farmer's Lung. Crops that are harvested in rainy conditions or that are stored while damp produce the bacteria and mold that cause allergic reactions which lead to Farmer's Lung.

Dry cough Shortness of breath Fever and chills Rapid breathing Rapid heart rate Weight loss Fatigue

There's no cure for farmer's lung but the symptoms can be effectively treated. The best things to do to alleviate Farmer's Lung symptoms is to avoid breathing in dust and mold. If your work environment is dusty or moldy wear a face covering or mask to prevent particles from entering your lungs. The use of respirator is an effective way to protect the lungs from mold spores. Also, the use of fans or filters to ventilate the work area can reduce the amount of particulate in the air. Medications such as prednisone can be prescribed to alleviate symptoms and reduce inflammation, although these should not be taken for long periods of time. For severe cases oxygen may be recommended in order to assist breathing. A bronchoscope, which is a tube inserted through the nose or mouth, through the throat and into the lungs, maybe used to assess the extent of Farmer's Lung and to obtain fluid samples for analysis and diagnosis.

There are three stages of Framer's Lung, acute, sub-acute and chronic. Acute and sub-acute are generally resolvable by avoiding environments susceptible to bacteria and mold growth and taking precautions, such as masks or respirators, while working in those environments. Most patients recover normal lung function or suffer minimal lung function degradation if the disease is treated early. In acute cases patients recover within several weeks if they avoid the source of the irritation and talk precautions. In subacute cases the condition is slower to get better and may require addition corticosteroid therapy. Chronic Farmer's Lung takes years to develop after multiple acute episodes and affects people who have extensive exposure to dust and mold. The illness can last months and is indicated by worsening shortness of breath, fever, unexpected weight loss and general fatigue. The longer a person is exposed to dusty mold the more likely they are to experience permanent lung damage. The mortality rate from farmer's lung is about 0-20% in severe cases. Death usually occurs years after the initial diagnosis. The longer the disease goes untreated after symptoms appear the greater the likelihood of death.

Respiratory failure Pulmonary fibrosis Emphysema Right-sided heart failure

You should see a doctor if you have worked around hay and crops and have persistent cough, wheezing, fever or rapid heart rate.

Farmer's Lung can be prevented by avoiding lengthy exposure to moldy hay, grains and other crops. When working around hay, straw, grains, etc. make sure the area is well ventilated and wear masks, face covering or ventilators.