Pigeon breeders lung also called as bird fanciers lung (BFL). It is a common type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) can be revert back easily. In BFL lung inflammation and granulation due to exposure and trigger by bird protein present in dry dust of bird droppings and feathers of bird. BFL cause by comman birds like pigeon, parakeets, cocktails, parrot, turkey and chickens.
Pigeon breeders lung is due to single or repeated exposure to birds as it is genetically determined, poultry farm workers or having bird as pet, feeding pigeons are the common exposures of BFL.
Pigeon breeders lung presentation are acute disease symptoms like fever, dry cough, breathlessness radiologically ground glass. Acute presentation within 4 to 6 hours. Sub acute disease due to recurrent exposure and symptoms like again fever, dry cough, malaise, weight loss and breathlessness. Radiologically R-N opacity. Late phase called as chronic disease. It is fibrosing ILD where patient is severely breatheless, more dry cough.
Diagnosis of pigeon breeders lung by clinical history, examination, HRCT (CT Thorax), Bronchoscopy.
Treatment is by avoid and removal of exposure can cure acute and sub acute phase, but some time steroid use for treatment of sub acute and chronic stage of BFL fibrosing ILD patient may required home oxygen treatment.