Recently, when we moved into a new apartment, everything felt perfect—fresh walls, open balcony, morning sunlight… and a few pigeons visiting every day.
But within weeks, something strange started happening. One by one, everyone at home began feeling sick—dry cough, breathing difficulty, chest discomfort, and unexplained fever. We thought it was dust allergy… or maybe seasonal flu.
Until we discovered something unexpected—years of dried pigeon droppings and feathers around the balcony were silently filling the air with allergens. That’s when I learned about a condition called Bird Fancier’s Lung .
Bird fancier’s lung (BFL),
also known as bird breeder’s lung or pigeon lung , is
• A type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis which is triggered by inhaling the avian proteins in dry dust of variety of birds.
• Mechasnism:
When inhaled, these avian proteins reach to place of oxygen consumption and cause inflammation.
• Due to prolong exposure over a time, this inflammation turns into mass or granular formation leading to pulmonary fibrosis.
Risk factors:
• 
Bird’s feathers and droppings.
People who stay in bird farms for long periods or own many birds.
Bird hobbyists and pet store workers may also be at risk.
Signs and symptoms
• Starts with shortness of breath and dry cough
• Chest pain, chills and fever.
Antigens causing lung diseases come from
• BFL may be caused by allergens from pegion.
• parakeets, cockatiels, budgerigars, parrots, turtle doves, turkeys, chickens, and other birds.
• feathers in bedding.
Prevention
• Early recognition of signs such as dry cough lasting for more than 1 year.
• Use of net and bird spikes
• Removal of bedding and pillow of pegion or other birds.
• Avoid cleaning the dry droppings which increase spread of dust allergens
• Always use of gloves, N95 masks to prevent direct exposure.
Diagnosis and treatment
Use of lung X-ray which reveals ground glass apperence and other CT scans.
Blood test
Bronchscopy
• The only way of getting improved is by removing all avian proteins inhaled.
Doctor may recommended use of steroids for reducing inflammation.
Have you heard of this disease before or is it new? Share your thoughts!
MBH/PS