Feeding pigeons in India is causing irreparable lung disease. (Image: iStock)
In India, many people start their day with the same ritual: they head to the nearest park and scatter a handful of bajra on the ground, only to have it eaten by hundreds of pigeons. But who knew that this could be harmful to health?
Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi have identified a link between prolonged exposure to pigeon feathers and droppings and chronic lung diseases. A recent case study by doctors points out that feeding and being around pigeons can pose significant health risks to humans.
The revelation came after doctors treated an 11-year-old boy from Delhi’s Vasundhara enclave who was suffering from severe breathing difficulty due to contact with pigeon feathers and droppings. He had initially reported coughing, which initially seemed normal, but later required urgent attention at the hospital.
After medical examinations, doctors concluded that the child has developed lung inflammation and a condition called hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CV).
Also called broiler lung, it is the most common form of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in India. According to the American Lung Association, hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs when specific substances or allergens are inhaled that cause an allergic reaction in the body. It is an occupational disease that can be treated by avoiding exposure to the allergen. If left untreated, it can lead to inflammation in the tiny air sacs in the lungs, also called alveoli. Unlike common allergies that cause hay fever and asthma, repeated exposure to the allergens that cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis can cause swelling and then permanently damage the lungs.
The patient at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital was given oxygen therapy, using a high-flow system, and was given steroid treatment. The team of doctors managed to cure the inflammation in the boy’s lungs, allowing him to breathe normally again.
CBC News quoted Mumbai-based physician Pralhad Prabhudesai as saying: “There are more than 300 reasons for contracting this hypersensitivity pneumonia and [exposure to] Pigeons are one of them. And more importantly, they are the most common cause of the disease in our country.”
Symptoms to watch out for
Doctors say that the symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be acute or chronic. Some of the symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Hacking cough
- Chest tightness
- Shivers
- Fatigue and extreme tiredness
- High fever
- Muscle pain
- Cough
- Weight loss
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