Types of Farmer's Lung

The different types and stages of Farmer’s Lung

Farmer’s Lung is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis and so is similar to Mushroom Worker’s Lung, Bird Fancier’s Lung and Wheat Weevil Disease in that the damage is caused by an allergic reaction from the sufferer, rather than the damage being caused by the particles themselves. In each case the type of spore or microbe is slightly different, but the outcome can be very similar; the sufferer develops an allergic reaction to the spores – sometimes referred to as becoming sensitised – and once that process has occurred, it is likely that they will remain allergic to the spores indefinitely.

There are essentially three stages within the development of Farmer’s lung: Acute, Subacute and Chronic.

Acute Stage

In this context, Acute means intense but not long-lasting. An acute attack of Farmer’s Lung is often the first sign that anything might be wrong. In most cases of acute Farmer’s Lung the sufferer will begin to feel symptoms such as a headache or shortness of breath within four to eight hours of coming into contact with the spores, but these symptoms often reduce or go away entirely over a short period of time away from the irritants.

Subacute Stage

In the Subacute stage symptoms can persist without any further exposure and in some cases can increase in severity. Shortness of breath, coughing, fever and sweating can all be signs of subacute Farmer’s Lung, and will most likely need treatment to reduce the symptoms, as well as avoiding any further exposure to the allergen.

Chronic Stage

If the condition is allowed to reach chronic stage the symptoms will become long-term: shortness of breath and severe coughing are very likely, alongside physical weakness, fever and sweating. Physical aches and pains are common, and in severe chronic attacks there is the risk of a victim going into shock and in some tragic cases this can lead to death. Sadly once the condition has reached chronic stage, there is not a great deal that can be done due to the hypersensitivity of the sufferer. At this stage treatments are more likely to focus on reducing the symptoms and managing quality of life rather than trying to eliminate the condition.