Mushroom Worker's Lung (मशरूम वर्कर’स लंग) एक प्रकार का occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) है।
- यह lung inflammation तब होता है जब व्यक्ति लंबे समय तक mushroom spores, compost या organic dust के संपर्क में आता है।
- Chronic exposure से fibrosis और lung damage हो सकता है।
- Mushroom workers, compost handlers और agricultural workers में common occupational disease है।
Mushroom Worker's Lung क्या है (What is Mushroom Worker's Lung)
- Hypersensitivity reaction – immune system overreacts to inhaled spores
- Leads to alveolar inflammation, cough, breathlessness
- Acute, subacute और chronic forms हो सकते हैं
- Repeated exposure से permanent lung damage और restrictive lung disease हो सकती है
Mushroom Worker's Lung कारण (Causes of Mushroom Worker's Lung)
1. Inhalation of Spores
- Mushrooms: Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus species
- Spores trigger immune-mediated lung inflammation
2. Compost Dust / Organic Dust
- Fungal hyphae and bacteria in compost
- Chronic exposure increases risk
3. Occupational Factors
- Mushroom cultivation workers
- Greenhouse workers
- Poor ventilation and dust control
4. Individual Susceptibility
- Genetics and immune response influence severity
Mushroom Worker's Lung लक्षण (Symptoms of Mushroom Worker's Lung)
Acute Symptoms:
- Cough, often dry
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Fever, chills
- Fatigue, malaise
Subacute / Chronic Symptoms:
- Progressive breathlessness
- Chronic cough
- Weight loss and night sweats in severe cases
- Clubbing of fingers (advanced fibrosis)
Symptoms worsen during work exposure and may improve on weekends/holidays.
Mushroom Worker's Lung कैसे पहचाने (Diagnosis of Mushroom Worker's Lung)
- Clinical History – occupational exposure, seasonal pattern
- Physical Examination – crackles in lungs, cyanosis in severe cases
- Chest Imaging
- X-ray: reticulonodular patterns
- High-resolution CT (HRCT): ground-glass opacities, fibrosis
- Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) – restrictive lung pattern
- Serology – precipitating antibodies to mushroom spores
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Lung Biopsy – in unclear cases
Early diagnosis prevents irreversible lung fibrosis।
Mushroom Worker's Lung इलाज (Treatment of Mushroom Worker's Lung)
1. Avoidance of Exposure
- Immediate removal from spore-rich environment
- Proper ventilation in workplace
- Use of protective masks / respirators
2. Medications
- Corticosteroids – reduce inflammation
- Immunosuppressants – in severe chronic cases
3. Supportive Care
- Oxygen therapy in advanced disease
- Pulmonary rehabilitation for breathing exercises
- Treat secondary infections promptly
रोकथाम (Prevention)
- Proper ventilation in mushroom farms
- Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Regular medical screening for workers
- Minimize dust exposure during harvesting and compost handling
सावधानियाँ (Precautions)
- Early recognition of cough and breathlessness in workers
- Avoid continued exposure once symptoms appear
- Maintain good workplace hygiene
- Follow-up with pulmonologist regularly
FAQs (अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न)
Q1. क्या Mushroom Worker's Lung contagious है?
नहीं, यह infectious नहीं है। यह immune-mediated occupational disease है।
Q2. क्या यह permanent lung damage कर सकता है?
हाँ, chronic exposure untreated रहने पर fibrosis और restrictive lung disease हो सकती है।
Q3. इलाज में क्या सबसे जरूरी है?
सबसे जरूरी है exposure elimination और डॉक्टर की देखरेख में corticosteroids।
Q4. कौन-कौन लोग high-risk हैं?
Mushroom farmers, compost workers, greenhouse laborers – especially without PPE।
निष्कर्ष (Conclusion)
Mushroom Worker's Lung (मशरूम वर्कर’स लंग) एक occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis है।
Early diagnosis, exposure elimination, medications और pulmonary rehabilitation से lung damage और long-term complications को prevent किया जा सकता है।
यदि किसी worker में cough, breathlessness, fatigue या occupational pattern वाले symptoms दिखाई दें, तो तुरंत pulmonologist या occupational health specialist से consultation करें।