What are Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis & Byssinosis?
Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis such as Farmers Lung & Mushroom Workers Lung is induced by the inhalation of biologic dusts (e.g. from hay, mushroom compost or other agricultural products). Allergic Alveolitis results in an inflammatory immune response leading to acute Bronchitis, acute fever, headache, breathlessness & weight loss. Long term effects include Chronic Bronchitis & chronic fever, headache, breathlessness & weight loss. As the names suggest (Farmers Lung, Mushroom Workers Lung) the people most at risk are farm workers, live stock workers, workers with mushroom compost, livestock feed etc. Byssinosis also called “brown lung disease”, is an occupational lung disease. Byssinosis is caused by exposure to the endotoxins produced by the bacteria on cotton dust, flax, hemp, or jute. Byssinosis commonly occurs in textiles workers and causes a narrowing of the airways (similar to asthma). Long term exposure results in scarring of the lung tissue & permanent impairment of lung functio
