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People living in cities often enjoy the company of stray animals and birds by feeding them and in such a situation pigeons seem to be our best friends. But they can be a big threat to our health.
People living in cities often like to live with stray animals and in such a situation pigeons are considered our best friends. Feeding birds and animals is often a common practice in Indian homes, which increases our contact with wild creatures. But there is another aspect to this too.
A recent case study has shed light on the health hazards of exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers. The study shows that pigeon droppings on the balcony or terrace, which we consider harmless, can actually cause allergies. The case study is about an 11-year-old boy from East Delhi who suffered from a life-threatening allergy due to constant exposure to pigeon feathers and droppings. The boy was treated at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP)
The child was brought to the hospital after he complained of cough. However, his condition deteriorated as his breathing capacity decreased, the statement said. Dr Dhirendra Gupta, co-director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), said that investigations revealed that the child had hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), which is caused by an allergy to pigeon protein. Due to this, he needed immediate treatment.
Dr. Dhirendra said that medical examination revealed swelling and cloudiness in the boy's lungs, which are symptoms of HP. Cloudiness refers to the areas that appear white in chest X-ray, whereas normally these areas should be dark in color. HP is a chronic interstitial lung disease in which the lungs get scarred, making breathing difficult. This disease is more common in adults and less common in children. It affects 2-4 people in a population of one lakh every year.
high flow oxygen therapy
The doctor said that in the case study, the boy was given steroids and was given breathing assistance through high-flow oxygen therapy. In this therapy, gas is delivered to the body through a tube inserted into the nose. According to the doctor, this reduced the inflammation in his lungs and his breathing returned to almost normal levels.
Why is this such a matter of concern?
HP is caused by inflammation that results from the body's immune response to repeated exposure to certain environmental substances such as bird allergens, molds and fungi. Indirect exposure to e-cigarettes can also cause inflammation, Dr Gupta told PTI.
