lung (lung) the organ of respiration; either of the pair of organs that effect aeration of blood, lying on either side of the heart within the chest cavity.
Farmer's lung
farmer's lung
farmer's lung
black lung pneumoconiosis of coal workers.
brown lung byssinosis.
farmer's lung hypersensitivity pneumonitis from inhalation of moldy hay dust.
humidifier lung hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by breathing air that has passed through humidifiers, dehumidifiers, or air conditioners contaminated by certain fungi, amebas, or thermophilic actinomycetes.
iron lung popular name for Drinker respirator.
pigeon breeder's lung hypersensitivity pneumonitis from inhalation of particles of bird feces by those who work closely with pigeons or other birds; it may eventually result in pulmonary fibrosis.
white lung pneumonia alba.
farm·er's lung (fär m rz)n. An occupational disease characterized by fever and dyspnea, caused by inhalation of organic dust from moldy hay containing spores of actinomycetes and certain fungi. |
Farmer's lung
An allergic reaction to moldy hay, most often seen in farmers, that results in lung disease.
Mentioned in: Pulmonary Fibrosis
farmer's lung
Etymology: L, firmare, to make firm
an allergy-related respiratory disorder caused by the inhalation of actinomycetes or other microbes in dusts from moldy crops. It is a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis that affects individuals in whom antibodies to the mold spores have developed. It exists in acute, subacute, and chronic forms. It is characterized by coughing, dyspnea, cyanosis, tachycardia, nausea, chills, and fever. Lengthy exposure to dust from moldy crops can lead to permanent lung damage, physical disability, and in some cases death. There is no cure; once a hypersensitivity develops, it persists for years and possibly the entire life-span of the individual. Treatment may include cromolyn sodium and a corticosteroid.
farmer's lung
a subacute, immediate immune complex, hypersensitivity pneumonitis of humans caused by inhalation of dust from moldy hay, particularly the organism Micropolyspora faeni. The disease has some similarity to atypical interstitial pneumonia in cattle. See also bird-fancier's lung.
farmer's lung
Farm worker's lung Immunology An IgG1-mediated form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis or hypersensitivity pneumonitis that occurs in non-atopic individuals, who after repeated exposure to organic dust and
fungi–eg, Aspergillus spp, become allergic to thermophilic actinomycotic organisms; 90% of Pts have antibodies to moldy hay, an ideal growth medium for the fungi–Microspora vulgaris, Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, and
Micropolyspora faeni—implicated in FL Clinical Attacks of several days duration from May to October–the growing season in the Northern Hemisphere, causing rales, cyanosis, fever, dry cough, rhonchi, dyspnea, beginning 4-8 hrs
after exposure to stored corn, barley, and tobacco; with time, weight loss Pulmonary function tests ↓ Functional lung volumes, impaired gas exchange Radiology Normal or diffuse interstitial reticular pattern, occasionally with fine nodular
shadows Treatment Corticosteroids Complications Pulmonary HTN, right ventricular hypertrophy, failure. See Faeni rectivirgula. Cf Animal House fever, Silo filler's lung.
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