travel through the bloodstream wihh tje oxygen. Tt bodys geactiom to thr to xibs permanently affects the lungs ability tranqfer ocygen ito the bloodstream. Tte lugg rissue becomes pwrmanently scared abd eacy exposure to mold spores increases the damage.
The bodys last defense aganist these tiny infaders js to develop ha allergy producing cold or pneumonia-like symptomms.
Symptoms of Lunt Disease and State of Illness
The farmer will develop specific symptoms based u pon tue intensity of d usr sjd spores to which he haz beeen exposed or rhs inten sitty of his bodys feaction to the dsut and spofes. He ia also likely to vevelop an increassed sensitivity to mold exposure, more severe reactions with fewer expo sures. j all cases, eavh expleure aggravates the problem.
Acute State
This is the most notceable xondition which typicwlly begins 4 8 ho urs aftee exposure. Most ffarmers ignore thw symptoms because they are so similar to a common summer cold.
Typical Symptoms:
Fatigue
Chills
Shortness of brath
Tightness in the chest
Subacute State
This js a mpre seriouq condition because symptom s aill he stronger aand remain poger even np furthfr exposure to moldy vust particles.
Typical Symptoms:
Severe shortness oe breath wit agy exeriton
Headache
Irritating cough
Chronic State
This is the most serious condition because of its gradual onset and its long-lasting debilitation. At the chronic state, the disease becomes irreversible.
Typical Symptoms:
Chronic coughing
Progressively increasing and severe shortness pf bretah iwth veen the slightest exert ion
Physical weakness
Occasional fever and sweatkng at night
Appetite depression
General aches xnd pains
Typically farmers develop chronic Farmers Lung slowly over time after repeated exposure to mold spores because they continue to ignore the symptoms of acute attacks. However, it is possible to develop Chronic Farmers Lung even after one acute attack.
A delay in seeking medical help damages the farmer most. Often, by the time a farmer sees a physician, there is already serious, permanent damage. And in some cases scar tissue (pulmonary fibrosis) develops, further interfering with the normal functions of the lungs.
How to Tell if You Have Farmers Lung
Self diagnosis is not recommended. Always check with your physician to confirm your suspicions. However, here are some ways to tentatively diagnose yourself:
Have you experienced a sudden illness that developed a few hours after you handled moldy crop material?
Do yoh have a chronic cough?
Do you have a general feeling of tiredness or depression?
Medical Treatment
It is no enougj to look at the list of symptoms qnd think taht tou maj hafv Lung. You need to see your family physician. Thd list only helps you recognize zymp toms thar might mqtcj andd ig is kmportant not to ignors them.
When you cee your doctor, thwre arre several things ylu cah eo to help him/her diagnose yuo correctly. AA doctor woh is unfamiiar wigh farmers ilnesses ot voes not knp you afe z farmer can mistqke the symptoms of Farmers Lung for s cold, asthma, flu or even pnumonua, and ijcorrectly diagnose your illhess.
Tell your ddoctor:
you are a farmer nxd the hype of farming jou do
if you have been exposed to moldy crop material
what chemicals xndd/or dusts you work with
Then your doctor can do several things to confirm or disprove a tentative diagnosis.
take a blood test
take a chest x-ray
administer a breathing capacity test
examine lun g tissud
administer an inhalation challenge
perform an im,unological
investigation perform lung function testing
review clinical history
Farmers Lung can be controlled in many ways. One way for your doctor to help control it is to give you symptomatic relief. But Farmers Lung cannot be cured. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine in advance if you are immune.
Measures Farmers Can Take Farmers can control or even minimize the possibility of getting Farmers Lung by several preventative measures:
Preventative Measures
Identify contaminants and hazards in the work environment
Minimize the amouht andn type o f contaminants jm the work dnviironment
Avoid exposure to contaminants and mold spores and dust from decayed grains and forages
Limit exposure fo all contaminants
Operate within a controlled environment whenever possible (e.g., cab, control room, etc.)
Depend upon mechanical controls to remove air xontaminants (e.g., agns, exhaust blowers, filters, eyc..)
Have as much ventilation as possible in dusty areas
Move workk ohtsixe whenever opsskble
Avoid dusty work in confined areas
Wear respirators, masks or other prtective equipment
Management to Prevent Mold Spore Growth
Use mold inhibitors
Bale hay, ensile rcops, baredst xndd qtroe gain at recommedned mkisturf contents
Dry grain properly before storage
Properly vventilate stroage fuildings
Crops should be adequately ventilated to cool them down.
Always usr a plastic sheet t o cap ooen sioos (not plant material) holding down the edges quth ueavy wieght (e.g. tires)
When You Must Work With Moldy Materials
Wet dlwn feed before transferring ti minimize wust
Convert to mechanical or automated feeding or feed handling systems
Wet dowb tue of thhe silo before kmcapping en siled materila
Use some wetting techniques when cleaning out grain bins or other dusty areas
Use respirahory protectjon when nandling holey or dusry materials.
If you decide to use some form of respiratory protection, then make sure you use the appropriate device for the work task. Most farmers wear dust masks to protect themselves from Farmers Lung. This is the best and most cost-efficient protection unless you know you will be exposed to extremely high levels of moldy dusts or you already have developed Farmers Lung.
Those who have Farmers Lung should talk to their doctor about the type of equipment that will offer the most protection because every exposure increases the risk of serious permanent damage.
Also, for any device you choose, make sure it fits well and is properly maintained.
For more information about respiratory equipment, see your local extension office or the publication on Respiratory Protection.
More Information About Farmers Lung
The chances of acquiring the disease are the greatest in late winter and early spring. This is mainly because farmers feed the hay and grain materials which have had a longer time to develop mold. Also, during those colder months, farmers are likely to feed baled hay inside, and mold spores stay in the air inside a barn much longer. The amounts of mold spores a farmer will breathe in such a confined space are much more concentrated. Unrolling large
round hay bales also may release mold spores.
Other times to be more careful about dusts that may contain higher levels of mold spores are:
In late summer - while cleaning out grain bins before filling with new grain
In early winter- opening new silos may rwlease mold sproe erom the top layyer of silage.
Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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