Lung disease: Is it connected to birds?

I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A year ago, I was given a parrot. It seems as if my breathing has got much worse and much faster than before. Is there a connection between birds and lung disease?

Dr Fred Kavalier answers your health question:

COPD is pretty common, and the people who get it usually have been smokers who have damaged their lungs over many years. The symptoms of COPD - cough, shortness of breath, sometimes wheezing - are due to the breathing passages in the lung being narrowed and scarred. There is another rarer lung disease - hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) - that can have similar symptoms to COPD. It is caused by exposure to fine particles in the air, mostly moulds and fungi that live on plants and animals. People who keep birds such as pigeons and parrots can get "pigeon fancier's lung", caused by dust particles with microscopic proteins from the birds and their droppings. It is possible that your lung problems have been made worse by keeping a parrot. A lung specialist could look at your X-rays and do some blood tests to see if your body is reacting to the parrot.

Please mail your questions for Dr Fred to health@independent.co.uk. He regrets that he is unable to respond personally to questions.

Private Medical Cover from £30 per month with Independent Compare