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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Severe Wheezing,coughing Phelgm And Difficulty In Breathing?

I HAVE HAD 9 CANARIES AND ONE COCKATEIL IN MY LIVING ROOM FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THE LAST MONTH OR SO HAVE HAD SEVERE WHEEZING , COUGHING PHLEGM,AND DIFFICULTY BREATHING, MY HUSBAND, AFTER RESEARCHING BIRD ALLERGIES, THINKS IT MIGHT BE " BIRD FANCIERS LUNG",?
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Sun, 15 Jun 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 16 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Psittacosis ("bird fancier's lung") is a very rare atypical bacterial infection that can cause cough, but also usually presents as a flu-like illness with fever, general aches and tiredness and only mild respiratory symptoms. (You can also have headache, nausea and diarrhea) The severe wheezing, coughing and phlegm would be more likely to be symptoms of asthma which can be exacerbated by exposure to bird feather/feces etc... In any case, any breathing difficulty warrants a visit to you GP for examination. Be sure to mention that you keep birds as it my be reasonable to treat with a simple antibiotic that treats psittacosis even if the risk is low.
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What Causes Severe Wheezing,coughing Phelgm And Difficulty In Breathing?

Psittacosis ( bird fancier s lung ) is a very rare atypical bacterial infection that can cause cough, but also usually presents as a flu-like illness with fever, general aches and tiredness and only mild respiratory symptoms. (You can also have headache, nausea and diarrhea) The severe wheezing, coughing and phlegm would be more likely to be symptoms of asthma which can be exacerbated by exposure to bird feather/feces etc... In any case, any breathing difficulty warrants a visit to you GP for examination. Be sure to mention that you keep birds as it my be reasonable to treat with a simple antibiotic that treats psittacosis even if the risk is low.