farmer’s lung [L, firmare, to make firm] , an allergy-related respiratory disorder caused by the inhalation of actinomycetes or other microbes in dusts from moldy crops. It is a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis that affects individuals in whom antibodies to the mold spores have developed. It exists in acute, subacute, and chronic forms. It is characterized by coughing, dyspnea, cyanosis, tachycardia, nausea, chills, and fever. Lengthy exposure to dust from moldy crops can lead to permanent lung damage, physical disability, and in some cases death. There is no cure; once a hypersensitivity develops, it persists for years and possibly the entire life-span of the individual. Treatment may include cromolyn sodium and a corticosteroid.
