Delhiites at risk of bird breeder’s lung disease; Pigeons to be blamed

The Delhi population is getting infected with the bird fanciers’ lung (BFL), also known as bird breeder’s lung disease, thanks to the increased number of pigeons in the city. The pigeons are fed on many crossings of the road and are creating a menace throughout the city.
A person is more likely to contract the disease if they feed birds or are exposed to their excreta at work or home. Due to repeated exposure to airborne avian antigens, bird breeder’s lung disease is an immunologically mediated lung condition. The knowledge of this disease and diagnostic instruments including the CT scan, pulmonary function testing machine, and bronchoscopic procedures are diagnosing pigeons as a cause, according to specialists.

This particular kind of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is brought on by exposure to highly antigenic avian proteins excreted in bird droppings and waxy proteins covering a variety of birds’ feathers (bloom), which cause a hypersensitive reaction in a susceptible host. Although being one of the most widespread varieties of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, it frequently goes undiagnosed.
Some of the symptoms include coughing fits and lung diseases include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Due to repeated exposure to airborne avian antigens, bird breeder’s lung disease is an immunologically mediated lung condition. Some of the symptoms include coughing fits and lung diseases include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath.

According to a study published in 2017 in Indian Pediatrics (IP), the official journal of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), children are more likely to contract pigeon breeders’ disease when they live near a backyard chicken or pigeon breeding operation.

It can lead to extremely serious, incapacitating conditions like hypertension and pneumonitis, which can result in interstitial lung disease or fibrotic lung disease. Doctors inquire specifically about the patient’s location and whether they keep birds at home if they are bird watchers.