Farmer’s Lung

• 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: Pneumoconioses

Silicosis: Silicosis

Anthracosis: Anthracosis

Byssinosis: Byssinosis

Bagassosis: Bagassosis

Asbestosis: Asbestosis

Farmer’s Lung: Farmer’s Lung

Lecture on Pneumoconiosis: Occupational Health