It can cause shortness of breath, fever, dry cough, chest pain, anorexia and weight loss, fatigue, and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (the most serious complication). It is triggered by exposure to avian proteins present in the dry dust of droppings or feathers of a variety of birds.
Can you get lung disease from birds?
General Discussion. Psittacosis is an uncommon infectious disease that is most often transmitted to humans through exposure to infected birds, especially parrots, cockatiels, parakeets and similar pet birds. Psittacosis can affect the lungs and may cause inflammatory illness of the lungs (pneumonia).
What lung disease is caused by birds?
Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus often found in bird and bat droppings. People usually get it from breathing in these spores when they become airborne during demolition or cleanup projects.
How do you acquire pulmonary fibrosis?
You have an increased risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis if you work in mining, farming or construction or if you're exposed to pollutants known to damage your lungs. Cancer treatments. Having radiation treatments to your chest or using certain chemotherapy drugs can increase your risk of pulmonary fibrosis.
Can bird fancier's lung be cured?
Treatment starts by removing the patient from the antigen exposure so the lungs can heal. But if the affected person is repeatedly exposed over long periods of time, the inflammation becomes a scar, Han said. She had a patient with bird fancier's lung die because the woman refused to give up her parrot.
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Can bird fancier's lung be cured?Can you get COPD from birds?
