As I was relaxing with the newspaper in the park after my morning walk and my attention was drawn to a news item where a carrier pigeon was sold for Dollar 1.4 million. I shared the news with my walking partner sitting beside me, he said “I don’t know pigeons may cost so much but they certainly costed me Rs: 2,00,000/- hospital bill with chest infection.”
When further enquired, Mr. Rao explained me that he had been suffering from bad cough, wheeze, fever, sputum and sleepless nights for many weeks and several types of medicines by his family doctor was futile. After many weeks, clueless about diagnosis and continued suffering, he was referred to a pulmonologist (lung doctor). Now he came to know that he was diagnosed with allergic lung disease (Hypersensitive Pneumonitis) or “Bird Fanciers Lung” which is caused due to inhalation of dried pigeon droppings. He recovered completely after he was treated appropriately.
True! Pigeons which look cute and non-harmful are increasing in population in urban dwellings as they take shelter in building complexes near windows, AC vents. Pigeons are well known to carry and spread diseases through their droppings. Collections of droppings may also provide a medium for bacterial and fungal growth that could pose a potential public health problem. When these droppings blown by air or get in to ac ducts and circulate inside houses / offices we become victims of various diseases. Even without bacteria etc., the droppings can be extremely allergic and cause asthma/ flu/ pneumonia like symptoms. The cough and other symptoms does not respond to regular antibiotics, unless it is correctly diagnosed as allergy and appropriately treated. High degree suspicion from doctors and volunteering history of exposure to pigeons from the patients can make the diagnosis easy, early and not as costly as in Mr. Rao’s case. The effective way of preventing the problem is by covering windows with fish net to keep the pigeons away. Stop feeding pigeons and keep them away as much as possible from residential areas.
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