Farmer's Lung Disease -
Another Hazard from the Flood of '93?

Mary Andersen, M.S. and Patrick McKillion, M.D.
MU School of Medicine

green line

As the waters from the Flood of '93 begin to recede, our noses attest, the amount and variety of rot we will be coping with for some time cannot be ignored. Many types of mold or fungus are thriving in unusual places, and these may be dangerous to people's lungs. Moldy plant material, usually hay, but also moldy grain and leaves can cause a sometimes deadly disease called farmer's lung. Mold also thrives in livestock confinement operations, making farmer's lung a major health hazard for swine and dairy workers.

The more spores that are released, the more likely a person is to respond with a super-sensitive reaction. This reaction, called "hypersensitivity pneumonitis," is something like an allergic response in the lungs, but differs from asthma, where there is a sudden attack of breathlessness. The symptoms are shortness of breath, fever, cough and phlegm. Not surprisingly, farmer's lung is often mistaken for the flu. Left untreated, it can develop into permanently disabling chronic lung disease. The diagnosis of this disease by a physician can also be complicated by the fact that individuals may respond to these molds in different ways. Some people develop scarring in the lungs, which can be seen on X-rays. Farmer's lung can affect breathing in various ways. Testing may show a breathing pattern which physicians call "obstructive," but others have a pattern called "restrictive." In farmer's lung, the immune system definitely responds to mold, but the way it responds can differ between patients.

While scientists continue to tease out information about how the disease works, there is treatment available. The main defense is to avoid mold in the first place. Avoid stirring mold into the air. Keep a work area well ventilated, with the air blowing out and away from workers. Where it isn't possible to keep mold out of the air, a dust mask is an inexpensive way to keep from breathing it. Corticosteroids can help to control the symptoms, and may prevent long term damage to the lungs. People who already have farmer's lung as a result of their jobs may have to change occupations, but this is not usually necessary. Physicians will soon be able to tell more accurately whether a person has this disease, and will eventually be able to predict whether it will progress or go away. In the meantime, avoidance of mold or of dust that may contain mold is a good idea for prevention of farmer's lung.

[ Occupational Medicine ] -- [ AgEBB ] -- [ Comments ]