title: Rosella parrot exposure as a cause of bird fancier's lung.
abstract: A case of a 30-year-old man who presented with a 2-month history of progressively worsening dyspnoea, cough, and reduced exercise tolerance is discussed. A chest x-ray and computerized tomography of the chest suggested interstitial lung disease, which was confirmed on histology of an open lung biopsy. Careful questioning revealed that the patient had sustained close exposure to a rosella parrot acquired as a pet 9 months prior to presentation, which led to the diagnosis of bird fancier's lung. The case, investigations, and outcome are presented. This is followed by a discussion on extrinsic allergic alveolitis with particular emphasis on the importance of a complete social and environmental history in patients presenting with similar respiratory symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Maryanne Caruana, Kurt Spiteri Cornish, Stefan Bajada, Cynthia Farrugia Jones, and Joseph Cacciottolo are with the Department of Medicine, St. Luke's Hospital, Gwardamangia MSD07, Malta. caruana.maryanne@gmail.com
authors.forename: Maryanne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caruana
authors.forename: Kurt Spiteri
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cornish
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bajada
authors.forename: Cynthia Farrugia
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cacciottolo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001716:Bird Fancier's Lung / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010311:Parrots; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D011239:Prednisolone