Farmer's lung disease

Category

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Acute/Chronic

Chronic

Synonyms

Farmer's lung disease (FLD); Farmer's lung;

Biomedical References

Comments

Acute presentation: flu-like illness with cough;
Subacute: recurrent "pneumonia";
Chronic: exertional dyspnea, productive cough, and weight loss;
The exposure is to moldy hay, and the suspected antigens are the thermophilic actinomycetes and the fungus (Aspergillus sp.). [Harber, p. 202] See "Exposure to field vs. storage wheat dust: different consequences on respiratory symptoms and immune response among grain workers. [PMID 29804141] See "Hypersensitivity pneumonitis."

Latency/Incubation

Weeks to years until "sensitized"; acute symptoms 4-12 hours after exposure;

Diagnostic

Clinical; Chest x-ray; HRCT; Pulmonary function testing; BAL; Lung biopsy;

ICD-9 Code

495.0

ICD-10 Code

J67.0

IDdx Link

Job Tasks

High risk job tasks associated with this disease:

• Inhale bioaerosols of moldy hay, silage, straw, or grain

Agents

Hazardous agents that cause the occupational disease:

• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis antigens