Bird Fanciers Lung
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I have been diagnosed with bird fanciers lung, interstitial pneumonitis, extrinsic allergic alveolitis. i kept a budgie, cockateil and 2 canaries for years and also fed the garden birds. about 25 pigeons visited each day and when not being fed roosted on the house roof. i would sweep up and clean the bird table every two days. i began to feel breathless, had an irritating cough, couldnt walk far because a was so out of breath also i lost 3 stone in weight. i generally felt very unwell after about 7 months from when i first noticed the systems. i had a lung biospy which showed i was suffering from the above. i had to rehome my birds as i was most allergic to the cockateil and i stopped feedin the birds. my xrays showed granumolutus markings and i was put on a high dose of steroids which help clear the lungs. can you tell me what the future holds for me, what is the prognosis. i still get tight chested on exertion and feel rough if i get hayfever or a cold in the chest region.
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To Whom It May Concern:
6-16-2004 4:22 am Wisconsin
Pardon the spelling errors. It is late here in WI. Being I'm on pregsone I don't sleep much. I came across your question and felt the need to respond.
I hope you are well.
The best thing you could have done for yourself was to remove yourself away from the droppings from the birds. To my knowledge the test they ran on you was a 99% accurate study to see if you are allergic to the micro-powder of the droppings...generally against pigeons.
I can relate to what you are saying to a T. The pain and burning I have is calling for me to have a lung biospy on 6-17-2004. Is it painful?
My test for bird fancy cme back negative so I still have my friends with us. Although the Dr. wants me to stay away from the birds until I get the results. If you have any questions I will speak to the Drs I have. They are very kind and have information to share. Had you not gotten rid of the birds more than likely it would have taken your life. At least it has for people who refuse to part with their feathered friends.
I know that permeant damage can be caused. Are you on pregsone?
E-mail me and we can talk.
Rebecca Gerhardt
Appleton, WI
cfqtag@aol.com
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Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (or hypersensitivity pneumonitis in North America) is most commonly due to birds, but there are many other causes. Birds visiting your garden are an unlikely cause, most problems occur from birds kept indoors or in breeders. The antigen (the thing you are allergic to which causes the disease) has to be breathed in. Most of it probably comes from the bloom on the birds feathers, but it is also present in the droppings. The droppings need to be dry before they can be inhaled, this often takes several days.
The future is very unclear. There are pigeon breeders who keep their pigeons, reduce their exposures and stay well (Bourke Thorax 1989;44:415-418). There are a few who get worse even when exposure ceases. If the disease is acute, as it appears to be in your case, with weight loss being prominant, substantial recovery should be the norm. You can see if you are still being exposed to the bird antigens by repeated measurements of your IgG antibodies against the bird proteins. They should go down, and usually become negative after about 3 years of avoiding exposure. Dying from acute bird fabciers lung is extremely rare.
The link below has more details.
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re: bird fanciers lung, interstitial pneumonitis, extrinsic allergic alveolitis.
is this a real condition or have you fabricated it?
i am having a problem with a neighbor who feeds pidgeons. ordinarily i would not care but they sit on my roof all day long flying from their yard to feed and resting on my roof to shxt. they are making a mess destroying my property, filthing up my home and destroying the quality of my life. i cannot do anything about my neighbor feeding them. he has more rights than i. i have serious allergies. one of my high allergy areas is mites to which exist in pidgeon feces.
i am searching for inexpensive solutions but as i read your post here i am wondering if there is a greater problem than what i am aware of.
i look forward to you response.
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Dear Sarah,
I wish I could help you but I too have been diagnosed with bird fanciers disease. I had a cockateil for 12 years and had to give him away when I had a CT scan showing the disease. Unfortunately he died 3 months later, being one 'man' birds.
I have asthma for a lot of years and I expect this made me more suseptable
So far I am just using my Ventolin inhaler and and steroid inhaler.
I too find it hard to breath when walking up hills or stairs,or carrying things. I had a funny turn whilst holidaying recently in North Italy and when I arrived back in New Zealand I was advised to have an angiogram because the doctors thought my heart was the problem for the breathlessness
This was not the case so back to the Chest specialist for more tests.
I know this doesn'thelp you much but thought you might like to know that there are others out there like you.
Yours sincerely, Evelyn Hatfield
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I had a paracardial effussion for a few years, not long ago I was found to have fluid in my lung...the lung doctor said I may be allergic to my 2 parakeets and I gave them away that day. When I went back for the CT scan the fluid was gone! I had also developed asthma just out of the blue, which I am still having problems with. Has anyone heard of bird allergies causing effussions?
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I too have been diagnosed with bird fanciers lung today. The main problem is an irritating cough but no breathing difficulties. After a CT scan, although infection was deemed to be VERY SLIGHT, I was advised to get rid of my Parakeet . We have kept house birds on and off for a few years (one at a time) and I have declined, opting to be more diligent in cleaning and dust removal . I have not been offered any treatment or medication. Any ideas what will help?
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Re pigeons on the roof: You MUST put a stop to the feeding of pigeons. It is a definite health hazard. I suggest you contact your doctor and, if neccesary, the police.
Good luck
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Re bird fanciers lung. A reprieve for the Paddy the Parakeet. I have now been re-diagnosed as having "pulmonary eosinophillia" which may or may not go away as it has 2 paths to go, aggressive or non- aggressive, which could be caused by an infection from a fungus or parasite. It seems to be in the lap of the gods, highly amusing my Australian consultant who said "there is no need to strangle the bladdy byrd" Well that's Paddy sorted then. I have been prescribed a nasal spray, and will keep monitoring my breathing. Good luck to all.
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Does anyone with pigeon lung get a rash all over the upper body with flu like conditions
thank you
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When I am ill I get a red itchy rash all around my upper back and chest area!!!
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I do mostly in the winter.
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My neighbour keeps pigeons and wears a mask when cleaning them im sitting less than 3ft while hes got door open im an asthmatic and worried spores in air might worsen my health any advice ?
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