A type of asthma caused by an allergy to rotting hay.
Respirator disorder caused by an allergic response to inhaled fungi from moldy hay and characterized by coughing, difficult breathing, nausea, chills, fever, and rapid heartbeat.
A dust disease caused by inhalation of dust from moldy hay. Farmer’s lung results from a reaction to exposure to a fungus known as Thermoactinomyces vulgaris (T. vulgaris) and occurs primarily in people who are sensitive to it. The symptoms may be acute, producing a flulike illness with a cough that resolves within a few days after exposure. Symptoms generally appear within 4 to 12 hours following exposure but may also occur chronically and include breathlessness caused by exertion, a productive cough, and weight loss.
An occupational lung disease caused by allergy to fungal spores that grow in inadequately dried stored hay. It is an allergic alveolitis, such as also results from sensitivity to many other allergens. An acute reversible form can develop a few hours after exposure; a chronic form, with the gradual development of irreversible breathlessness, occurs with or without preceding acute attacks. Avoidance of the allergen is the main principle of treatment.
A form of external allergic alveolitis caused by the inhalation of dust from mouldy hay or straw.
A form of hypersensitivity alveolitis caused by exposure to moldy hay that has fermented. Actinomyces micropolyspora faeni and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris are the causative microorganisms.
In the domain of allergies, there exists a specific immunological response triggered by exposure to mold-infested hay, predominantly observed among farmers. This allergic reaction culminates in the development of a respiratory ailment known as lung disease.
Farmer’s lung is a work-related disease impacting the lungs of agricultural workers. This condition is a form of allergic alveolitis, where those affected exhibit a hypersensitive response, an overreaction of the immune system, to specific moulds or fungi found on hay, grain, or straw. These causative organisms flourish in warm, moist environments, resulting in more frequent outbreaks in regions with high rainfall.
Symptoms usually appear approximately six hours post exposure to dust laden with fungal spores. These symptoms encompass shortness of breath, headaches, fever, and muscle aches. During acute episodes, these symptoms tend to persist for about a day. Continuous exposure to these spores could potentially result in a chronic form of the disease, leading to permanent scar tissue formation in the lungs.
The process of diagnosing farmer’s lung may include a chest X-ray, pulmonary function tests, and blood tests to detect a specific antibody directed against the fungus.
Medications containing corticosteroids can alleviate the symptoms associated with the condition. It’s important to avoid further contact with the fungal spores. If the disease is identified before it causes irreversible harm to the lungs, a full recovery is highly probable.