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What is Farmer's Lung?
About Farmer's Lung
Symptoms of Farmer's Lung
Health Problems associated with Farmer's Lung
Diagnosis of Farmer's Lung
How will I know if I have developed Farmer's Lung?
Treatment of Farmer's Lung
What treatment will I need if I have Farmer's Lung?
Prevention of Farmer's Lung
Farmer's Lung can be prevented
Farmer's Lung Compensation Claim Advice
How to start a claim for Farmer's Lung Compensation
Farmer's Lung is an allergic disease caused by breathing in the dust from mouldy hay. However, dust from any mouldy crop (straw, corn, silage, grain, or tobacco) can cause it. Farmer's Lung is the common term used to describe the illness but the proper clinical terms are extrinsic allergic alveolitis, hypersensitivity alveolitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. These are general medical terms that include other lung conditions resulting from exposure to allergy-causing dusts found in different kinds of workplaces or locations e.g. Mushroom Worker's Lung, Malt Worker's Lung and Bird Fancier's Lung. Farmer's Lung is the most common form of occupational extrinsic allergic alveolitis.
Farmer’s Lung occurs because, over time, certain people can become allergic to the mould which occurs when wet crops are stored. It is not the hay itself which causes the problem. If crops are harvested whilst damp and stored with high water content, then heat-tolerating bacteria and mould spores can develop. When mouldy hay dries it becomes very dusty. This very fine dust contains bacteria and mould spores and in winter, when the crops are generally stored in barns, it can become trapped in the air inside. When inhaled, the spores can become lodged in the lungs.
An allergic reaction is triggered by the immune system which reacts to ‘antigens’. These are found in germs but also on harmless material such as mould spores. The immune system produces antibodies in reaction to these antigens and hypersensitivity can develop. Once people become hypersensitive, they remain hypersensitive for years, perhaps for life.
If you develop Farmer's Lung or any other type of occupational extrinsic allergic alveolitis you may be able to make a Farmer's Lung compensation claim.
The symptoms of Farmer’s Lung include coughing and the production of phlegm, shortness of breath, fever and sometimes chills, a tightness and / or pains in the chest. Symptoms vary with the level of exposure and there are two forms of the condition - acute and chronic
Acute allergic alveolitis follows exposure to high levels of dust and will usually occur several hours after exposure. Breathlessness, flu like symptoms, headache etc may develop. These symptoms are sometimes confused with pneumonia. If there is no further exposure, symptoms will improve within a week or so. If exposure continues, the symptoms become more severe.
Chronic allergic alveolitis may result in permanent damage to the lungs – this is called pulmonary fibrosis. This might develop following several acute attacks over a period of years. Symptoms include increasing shortness of breath, mild fever, and often, a significant loss in weight and a general lack of energy. This condition can be disabling and may even be fatal
These symptoms are similar to other lung diseases so it is important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
If you develop Farmer's Lung or any other type of occupational extrinsic allergic alveolitis you may be able to make a Farmer's Lung compensation claim.
Early diagnosis may lead to full recovery so it is important to seek immediate medical attention if you think you may have developed Farmer's Lung. Diagnosis can be made by a blood test, a chest x-ray and a breathing capacity test. The potential source of antigen needs to be identified. The doctor needs to take a full history.
If you develop Farmer's Lung or any other type of occupational extrinsic allergic alveolitis you may be able to make a Farmer's Lung compensation claim.
Treatment is aimed at preventing permanent damage. Corticosteroid treatment may speed up improvement in lung function following an acute attack but it does not produce any long-term improvement in lung function. Thus, although medication may help with some of the symptoms of Farmer’s Lung, avoiding further exposure is very important. If a person continues to be exposed, they may become sicker. People can die from Farmer's Lung.
If you develop Farmer's Lung or any other type of occupational extrinsic allergic alveolitis you may be able to make a Farmer's Lung compensation claim.
Preventative measures should be taken to reduce exposure to the dust. Crops should be dried properly before storage and by ensuring good ventilation. The use of mould inhibitors may also help. Wearing a mask is very important.
If you develop Farmer's Lung or any other type of occupational extrinsic allergic alveolitis you may be able to make a Farmer's Lung compensation claim.
If you or someone you know has developed Farmer's Lung or any other industrial disease due to the negligence or breach of legal duty of another person, you may be entitled to make a claim for your / their injury. For example, if your exposure occurred at work, you could hold your employer responsible for your condition as they have failed to provide you with a safe environment to work in. Employees are protected from exposures to harmful substances in the workplace by “The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988” or COSHH for short.
Providing it can be proven that your injury was caused by your exposure to an irritant at work and the person / company who allowed you to come into contact with the substance was negligent, then your claim for compensation should be valid.
There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms.