• Due to inhalation of moldy hay or grain dust (hypersensitivity pneumonitis)
• Grain dust or hay with a moisture content of >30%,
– bacteria and fungi grow rapidly in the dust
– causing rise of temperature of 40 – 50⁰C
• This heat promotes growth of:
– Thermophilic actinomycetes esp. Micropolyspora faeni which causes Farmer’s lung
• Acute Illness
– General and respiratory symptoms and physical signs
• Repeated attacks of acute illness cause
– pulmonary fibrosis and inevitable pulmonary damage and
– Finally Corpulmonale
• India has the bulk of the population engaged in agricultural work – the condition might be widespread in the country
References
• Chapter 1 - Dust: Definitions and Concepts; Hazard Prevention and Control in the Work Environment: Airborne Dust WHO/SDE/OEH/99.14 available at: http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/en/oehairbornedust3.pdf, accessed on 16th Feb 2017
• Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine
Types of Pneumoconiosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/pneumoconioses
Silicosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/silicosis
Anthracosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/anthracosis
Byssinosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/byssinosis
Bagassosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/bagassosis
Asbestosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/asbestosis
Farmer’s Lung: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/farmer%E2%80%99s-lung
Lecture on Pneumoconiosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/category/occupational-health