is this the same

[Guest guest]

Couldn't these symptoms we have breathing be classified as the same as these?

Kathy in Illinois

FARMER'S LUNG (and variants) Victims are sensitive to spores from moldy hay, etc. (Micropolysporum, Thermoactinomyces -- these "molds" include allergenic bacteria). Both farmers and their animals are susceptible.

{27489} farmers in moldy hay Non-farmers can get a similar disease from mold in air-conditioners ("humidifier fever", etc.), cardboard, etc. (See JAMA 258: 1210, 1987).

Clinical course: Either or both of two phases First phase: transient IgE-mediated syndrome with bronchoconstriction (wheezing, etc.) Second phase: IgG-mediated type III-injury vasculitis ("extrinsic allergic alveolitis"; "hypersensitivity alveolitis") which may be serious. It can be acute, subacute, or chronic. In really bad cases, there may be granuloma formation, tissue necrosis, fibrosis (Am. Rev. Resp. Dis. 133: 88, 1986), etc. Precipitating IgG antibodies against the offending mold can be demonstrated in the patient's serum (and in the serum of many asymptomatic farmers, too; Thorax 44: 469, 1989). For a review of the diagnostic immunology of the organic pneumoconioses, see Clin. Lab. Med. 4: 523, 1984.

Bagassosis: farmer's lung caused by molds in dry sugar cane. *Other forms of "extrinsic allergic alveolitis": "Animal house lung": fraternity party with straw (JAMA 258: 1219, 1987)

Woodworker's pneumoconiosis (including "sequoiosis" from redwood mold)

Mushroom worker's lung

Cheese worker's disease

Grain handler's pneumoconiosis (Can. Med. Assoc. J. 133: 969, 1985)

Malt worker's pneumoconiosis

Pigeon keeper's lung ("bird-fancier's lung"; *Interestingly, these patients are reported to have semi-anergy: Thorax 44: 132, 1989)

Pituitary snuff taker's lung (diabetes insipidus victims)

Portuguese cork-worker's lung (suberosis)

Sisal-worker's disease

Hungarian paprika-splitter's disease

Tea-maker's asthma

Coffee bean dust disease

Furrier's lung

Sudanese bat-guano asthma (Lancet 1: 316, 1987)

Leather waterproofer's lung (Br. Med. J. 292: 727, 1986)

Zimbabwe ivory-carver's lung (Thorax 43: 342, 1988); save the elephants

Silkworm dropping lung (Thorax 45: 233, 1990)

You can benefit many of these people by installing electrostatic dust filters (Ann. Int. Med. 110: 115, 1989). A face mask for hay-time: Chest 95: 100, 1989.