Farmer's lung

Farmer's lung (not to be confused with

• Acute Stage: Appears four to eight hours after exposure. Symptoms such as headache, irritating cough, and shortness of breath upon physical exertion.^[3][4]
• Subacute Stage: Symptoms persist without further exposure, and increase in severity. Symptoms include: shortness of breath upon exertion, chronic coughing,
  physical weakness, occasional fever and sweating, decrease in appetite, aches and pains.^[3][4]
• Chronic Stage: Debilitating effects are now considered long-term. Symptoms include: severe shortness of breath, chronic coughing, physical weakness, occasional fever and sweating at night, decrease in appetite, and general aches and pains.[3]^[4]

These symptoms develop between four and eight hours after exposure to the antigens. In acute attacks, the symptoms mimic pneumonia or flu. In chronic attacks, there is a possibility of the victim going into shock and dying from the attack.^[5]

Causes

Permanent lung damage can arise due to one's inability to recognize the cause of symptoms.

[4]Diagnoses of Farmer's lung is difficult due to its similarity to cold and flu-like symptoms.^[8] Doctors diagnose patients with Farmer's lung under the following conditions:

• A clinical history of symptoms such as cough, fever, and labored breathing when exposed to mold in work environment.^[8]
• The presence of
  diffuse lung disease in chronic cases.^[8]
• Presentation of antibodies when exposed to thermophilic Actinomyces.^[8]

Examination procedures may include:

• taking a blood test^[3][9]

• taking a chest x-ray^[3][9]

• administering a breathing capacity test^[3][4]

• administering an inhalation challenge^[3][4]

• examining lung tissue^[3][9]

• performing an immunological investigation^[3][4]

• performing a lung function test^[3][9]

• reviewing the clinical history^[3][4]

Treatment

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, FLD can last from one to two weeks, or it can last for the rest of one's life. Acute FLD has the ability to be treated because hypersensitivity to the antigens has not yet developed. The main treatment options are: rest and reducing the exposure to the antigens through masks and increased airflow in confined spaces where the antigens are present.^[5] Any exposure to the antigens once hypersensitivity has occurred can set off another chronic reaction.^[5] For chronic FLD, there are no true treatments because the patient has developed hypersensitivity meaning that their condition will last the rest of their life.

Epidemiology

The growth of

• Organic dust toxic syndrome

References