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Ornithopulmonary disease

L S Gottlieb

    American Family Physician
    |October 1, 1979
    PubMed

    Insights

    Exposure to infected birds or their droppings can cause severe pulmonary infections like ornithosis and pigeon-breeder's lung. Avoiding exposure is key, though corticosteroids help in acute allergic alveolitis cases.

    Area of Science:

    • Pulmonary Medicine
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Allergology

    Background:

    • Severe pulmonary infections in humans can stem from contact with infected birds or their excreta.
    • Inhalation of infectious agents leads to conditions such as ornithosis, histoplasmosis, and cryptococcosis.
    • Pigeon-breeder's lung is an allergic alveolitis triggered by hypersensitivity to avian-related allergens.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To outline the causes and treatments of severe pulmonary infections linked to avian exposure.
    • To differentiate between infectious and allergic pulmonary responses to birds.
    • To emphasize management strategies for pigeon-breeder's lung.

    Main Methods:

    • Literature review of pulmonary infections associated with birds.
    • Clinical description of ornithosis, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and pigeon-breeder's lung.
    • Discussion of treatment modalities, including avoidance and corticosteroids.

    Main Results:

    • Avian exposure is a significant risk factor for several serious lung conditions.
    • Pigeon-breeder's lung is characterized as an allergic alveolitis.
    • Recurrence is common in pigeon-breeder's lung, necessitating allergen avoidance.

    Conclusions:

    • Prompt identification and management are crucial for severe avian-related pulmonary infections.
    • Allergen avoidance is the primary treatment for pigeon-breeder's lung.
    • Corticosteroid therapy is effective for acute presentations of allergic alveolitis.

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