An allergic disease commonly caused by inhaling moldy hay dust is.

NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 shift 1st

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 shift 1st

Explanation

Farmer's lung is a classic form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), an immune-mediated lung disease.
It is specifically caused by the inhalation of dust from moldy hay, straw, and grain.
The causative agents are thermophilic actinomycetes bacteria (like Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula) and fungi that thrive in damp, stored vegetation.
Symptoms can be acute (flu-like illness 4-8 hours after exposure) or chronic (progressive breathlessness with repeated exposure).

Option A: Pigeon lung, or bird fancier's lung, is caused by an allergic reaction to avian proteins found in the feathers and droppings of birds, not moldy hay.
Option B: Pigeon chest (pectus carinatum) is a structural deformity of the chest wall where the sternum protrudes outward. It is a musculoskeletal condition, not a respiratory disease caused by inhalation.
Option D: While 'fish meal worker's lung' is a recognized occupational disease from inhaling fish meal dust, 'fishers lung' is not a standard term. The exposure is entirely different from moldy hay.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Occupational Lung Diseases and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A thorough occupational and environmental history is a critical nursing assessment for any patient presenting with new or worsening respiratory symptoms.
Patient education is key to managing hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Nurses should teach patients about antigen avoidance, such as using personal protective equipment (respirators) and improving ventilation in work areas.
What if the patient was a sugarcane worker? The diagnosis would likely be Bagassosis, another form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by inhaling moldy sugarcane fiber (bagasse).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrases in the question: 'allergic disease' and 'inhaling moldy hay dust'.
The term 'moldy hay' strongly points towards an agricultural or farming context.
Evaluate the options. 'Farmer's lung' has a direct linguistic and contextual link to the exposure described.
Differentiate this from other occupational lung diseases. 'Pigeon lung' relates to birds, and 'fishers lung' (or fish meal lung) relates to fish processing.
Eliminate 'pigeon chest' as it is a structural deformity, not an inhalation-induced allergic disease. This makes it the least plausible option.
By connecting the specific exposure (moldy hay) to the most relevant occupation (farmer), you can confidently select the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 636-638

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 2 p. 401-403