Pigeons are a common sight in the balcony of almost every Indian home. Feeding pigeons is a common practice in many homes, often seen as an act of kindness or a spiritual offering. However, this well-intentioned act can inadvertently pose health risks, especially related to lung diseases caused by pigeon droppings.

In the year 2023, a 42-year-old woman from Jarod village in Gujarat’s Vadodara district will undergo a lung transplant at a city hospital due to a disease caused by pigeon droppings.

The hospital where she was treated was asked to maintain a clean environment, as prolonged exposure to pigeon faeces, dust and feathers can cause irreversible lung damage, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and long-term respiratory failure.

Over time, pigeon populations can increase in areas where they are regularly fed, leading to increased fecal accumulation and associated health hazards.

In fact, exposure to these feces can cause serious respiratory problems due to the germs present in them.

hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other health risks

Pigeon droppings contain fungi which, if left in the body for some time, can affect the immune system.

Various studies have shown that pigeon feces may contain harmful fungi such as Cryptococcus and Histoplasma, which thrive in the feces and become airborne as dust particles when the feces dry.

Breathing in these fungal spores can cause lung infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems.

Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital released a study in July that identified a link between long-term exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers and chronic lung diseases. They shared a case study about an 11-year-old boy from Delhi’s Vasundhara Enclave who developed hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to exposure to pigeon feathers and droppings.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a form of chronic interstitial lung disease (ILD) that can cause gradual and irreversible scarring of lung tissue, making it difficult for the affected individual to breathe easily.

Oxygen therapy and steroid treatment helped reduce the inflammation in the boy’s lungs.

One of the most common diseases associated with pigeon droppings is cryptococcosis, a fungal infection that can cause pneumonia-like symptoms such as coughing, fever and shortness of breath. In some severe cases, it can cause meningitis, which affects the brain and spinal cord.

Another disease, histoplasmosis, is caused by the Histoplasma capsulatum fungus. This infection, primarily affecting the lungs, can result in flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, chest pain, and a persistent cough.

“These lung diseases are fibrotic lung diseases. The lungs get damaged gradually. It is not an infection but a disease that keeps on progressing. It is dangerous and needs to be treated by a doctor. If it is not checked, it can progress to such an extent that you may need a lung transplant,” Dr Neetu Jain, senior consultant pulmonology at PSRI Hospital, told India Today’s Sneha Mordani.

While healthy individuals may have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, people who already have lung problems or a weakened immune system are at higher risk for serious complications.

How to reduce health risks from pigeon droppings?

It is important to take precautions to minimise the risks associated with pigeon droppings.

Wearing protective equipment such as masks and gloves when cleaning areas contaminated with pigeon feces is important to prevent inhaling the spores.

Experts recommend wetting the droppings before cleaning to reduce airborne particles. Ensuring proper ventilation and avoiding direct contact with pigeon nests or droppings can further reduce the chances of infection.

Regular cleaning and maintenance of areas where pigeons frequent roosts can also reduce the risk. Other preventive measures, such as installing bird barriers, may help reduce the risk of lung infections from pigeon droppings.