Has anyone got Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (Bird Keepers Lung/Flu)

[Swilso3]

We are having to wear masks for everything else so for sure the chicken coop!

 

[Folly's place]

'Regular' facemasks aren't good enough, when you are cleaning the coop or treating birds with insecticides. Use a N95 mask, or a respirator, nothing less.
I know this is a bad time to find N95 masks, but respirators may be available.
This is also not a good time to show up at Emergency if it can be avoided.
Mary

 

[Bocktobery 10]

'Regular' facemasks aren't good enough, when you are cleaning the coop or treating birds with insecticides. Use a N95 mask, or a respirator, nothing less.
I know this is a bad time to find N95 masks, but respirators may be available.
This is also not a good time to show up at Emergency if it can be avoided.
Mary

Yeah, totally agree with this. You want not only something sitting firm around your face but that will filter out the tiniest particles. I bought a respirator years ago- totally worth the investment as it’s come in handy at other times, not just the coop cleaning.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

I’ve been following... is it the dust from pine shavings or dried poop or both that are so dangerous ? (Dried poop seems a given). We use hemp and the poop seems really absorbed- not really dusty at all. Just curious. I’ve never heard of these diseases so thank everyone for this info!!

Not sure if anyone answered you... But just thought I’d chime in...

As you said, it’s both..

It’s never good for the lungs to take in any large amount of particulate. The lungs of course do a great job of self cleaning, but if the overload is every day, repetitious, it will eventually be injurious like with smoking cigarettes.

I don’t think it necessarily has to have a germ growing in it to be dangerous, although that obviously would be worse. And certainly poop dust would contain some germs. Less dust is definitely better! With any animal husbandry of course there are risks associated working near droppings, soiled bedding, wet bedding. One more thing to consider is possible rodents being in or near the coop. They can bring in other diseases. Some that are even more serious. One may not even notice that they are there..for awhile at least, and possibly be exposed. (Not trying to frighten, but just things to keep in mind)

So, just best to be on the safe side. You won’t know if and when you’re body is using some extra oomph to fight something else that got in that day.

 

[tamdeva]

I have bronchitis acquired from way back in the army in the early 70s. I haven't experienced your problem but I never clean a coop or go into a building to handle birds without a mask.
There is a real thing called hen workers lung.

Yes, I have read that another term for HP is Bird Keepers, or Farmers Lung

 

[RebelEgger]

I noticed I was getting a little cough and thought it may be related to going in cooo daily to scoop poop boards. I started wearing a mask and haven’t noticed the cough now. I’ll always wear one from here on out!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I noticed I was getting a little cough and thought it may be related to going in cooo daily to scoop poop boards. I started wearing a mask and haven’t noticed the cough now. I’ll always wear one from here on out!

I started wearing masks after reading threads like this one, and now I'm rather horrified by how much filth the mask picks up and how quickly - I was inhaling all of that!

 

[RebelEgger]

I started wearing masks after reading threads like this one, and now I'm rather horrified by how much filth the mask picks up and how quickly - I was inhaling all of that!

It’s pretty disgusting!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Histoplasmosis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/...
Feb 20, 2020 · Overview Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus often found in bird and bat droppings. The infection is most commonly spread when these spores are inhaled after taking to the air, such as during demolition or cleanup projects.
What Is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?
www.webmd.com/lung/hypersensitivity-pneumonitis...
Some sources of particles that can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis include: Animal fur. Fungus that grows in air conditioners, humidifiers, and heating systems. Bird droppings and feathers. Mold that grows on hay, straw, or grain animal feed. Bacteria in water vapor from hot tubs.
They are Very similar.

I wish I had looked this up before now. I am a dog groomer, so I've been inhaling dog fur and dander for 15 years now! Since becoming so sick in 2018, I am still having pain in one place on my right lung and struggle to breathe at times. I use an emergency inhaler and Advair everyday. I have some N95's, but in all honesty, I don't use them often. Typically IF I go out the the store or in public, which is rare, I wear a regular procedure mask and a 100% cotton mask over it. I don't think I could handle covid as my lung bothers me daily anyway. I also didn't know that gleet was thrush and mareks was herpes! I feel like I just need to permanently adhere a mask to my face. It's no wonder my lung is much worse after any dust up or clean out (weekly - biweekly) or grooming a dog that sheds or has a skin issue. You'd think that someone that suffers daily would be more on top of everything but I guess I've just gotten to the point of "this is just how it is". I feel like my eyes have been opened after reading through only half of this thread!

 

[tamdeva]

I wish I had looked this up before now. I am a dog groomer, so I've been inhaling dog fur and dander for 15 years now! Since becoming so sick in 2018, I am still having pain in one place on my right lung and struggle to breathe at times. I use an emergency inhaler and Advair everyday. I have some N95's, but in all honesty, I don't use them often. Typically IF I go out the the store or in public, which is rare, I wear a regular procedure mask and a 100% cotton mask over it. I don't think I could handle covid as my lung bothers me daily anyway. I also didn't know that gleet was thrush and mareks was herpes! I feel like I just need to permanently adhere a mask to my face. It's no wonder my lung is much worse after any dust up or clean out (weekly - biweekly) or grooming a dog that sheds or has a skin issue. You'd think that someone that suffers daily would be more on top of everything but I guess I've just gotten to the point of "this is just how it is". I feel like my eyes have been opened after reading through only half of this thread!

I wish I had looked this up before now. I am a dog groomer, so I've been inhaling dog fur and dander for 15 years now! Since becoming so sick in 2018, I am still having pain in one place on my right lung and struggle to breathe at times. I use an emergency inhaler and Advair everyday. I have some N95's, but in all honesty, I don't use them often. Typically IF I go out the the store or in public, which is rare, I wear a regular procedure mask and a 100% cotton mask over it. I don't think I could handle covid as my lung bothers me daily anyway. I also didn't know that gleet was thrush and mareks was herpes! I feel like I just need to permanently adhere a mask to my face. It's no wonder my lung is much worse after any dust up or clean out (weekly - biweekly) or grooming a dog that sheds or has a skin issue. You'd think that someone that suffers daily would be more on top of everything but I guess I've just gotten to the point of "this is just how it is". I feel like my eyes have been opened after reading through only half of this thread!

Heather, before retiring in 2011, I was also a Dog/pet groomer for 36 years! I kept a small fan by my station to adjust for seating or standing to blow the hair softly away. But sometime I just couldn't use it to finish a dog. Also wore masks and ear protection. Then I retired, got chickens. 8 years into keeping chickens I forgot to use a mask while cleaning the coop. That is when I got sick. Keep using your masks, good health and take care.