What is it about ?
Dry socket is an inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs. Allergic alveolitis is an abnormal reaction of the immune system after exposure to certain substances (allergens) in the environment, such as fungi or bird feces.
- Farmer’s lung is an allergic alveolitis in reaction to moldy plant material (eg hay, straw, litter, sawdust, shavings, mushroom bed);
- Bird breeder’s lung is an allergic alveolitis in reaction to the feces of cage birds;
- The pigeon’s lung is an allergic alveolitis in reaction to pigeon dust.
If the disease is left untreated for a long time, it can progress to chronic pulmonary fibrosis. Scar tissue forms in the alveoli, so the alveoli no longer work well.
What is its frequency?
We have no statistics for Belgium. A study has shown that 20 new cases of farmer’s lungs occur each year per 100,000 farmers per year in Sweden. In a British study, the number of new cases of allergic alveolitis was 9 in 100,000 per year.
How to recognize it?
Dry socket can be acute, with fever, shortness of breath, chest pressure, and nausea within 4 to 8 hours of exposure. In most cases, the disease progresses subacute. This means that over a longer period of time there may be episodes of fever, with coughing, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, weight loss, and shortness of breath on exertion.
How is the diagnosis made?
If you have repeated episodes of coughing, shortness of breath and / or fever, your doctor will try to determine if there is a link with exposure to certain substances. When auscultating the lungs, the doctor often hears fine rattles at the base of the lungs. The x-ray of the lungs is usually normal or shows a slight abnormality throughout the lungs (“frosted glass opacities”).
The blood test may show an increase in inflammatory values and white blood cells. The doctor may also detect antibodies against specific fungal spores or other allergens. A pulmonary function test (spirometry) also guides the diagnosis. In the hospital, the pulmonologist may also detect an increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissue of the lungs. Prompt diagnosis is of great importance to avoid permanent damage.
What can you do ?
The most important thing is to avoid exposure to the substances in question (allergens).
Protection (face masks or a fresh air-supplied respirator) can prevent the disease from returning.
If there is occupational exposure (such as in farmers), the disease can be recognized as an occupational disease. You are then entitled to sickness benefit.
What can the doctor do?
Taking cortisone for 3 or 4 weeks speeds up recovery, but does not influence the long-term prognosis (for example, it does not influence the progression to pulmonary fibrosis).
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