take on the bagpipes can be deadly , as evidenced by the case of a British man who perish thanks to a condition that physician have label “ bagpipe lung ” . Writing in the journalThorax , researchers explicate how the 61 - class - erstwhile Highland euphony enthusiast had been diagnosed with a lung disease call hypersensitivity pneumonitis in 2009 , yet it was n’t until after his last in 2014 that they put two and two together and discovered that his condition had been get by mold and fungi lurk inside his bagpipe .
Hypersensitivity pneumonitisis a chronic inflammatory lung disease that is cause by the physical structure ’s resistant response to inhaled pathogens . It can be triggered by a number of factors , such as steady vulnerability to pigeons , and is therefore sometimes referred to as “ birdie fancier ’s lung ” . However , this is the first clip that the condition has been link to play wind instrument , hence the world of its Modern moniker .
The dupe ’s initial diagnosis had left doctors a little flummox , as he was n’t particular partial of pigeons , did n’t smoke , and dwell in a somewhat well - kept sign that was free of stamp and fungus . In cattiness of this , his symptoms continued to deteriorate , leave him unable to take the air more than 20 meters at a time , and becoming shortsighted of breath . This motivate his admission to hospital in 2014 , where he conk despite being treated with immunosuppressant drug .
However , there had been a three - calendar month period in 2011 when the inauspicious - designate piper had have a respite from his symptom while visiting Australia . Having lead his bagpipe back home in the UK , he suddenly recovered much of his lung electrical capacity , and was capable to walk for miles along the beach without needing to contain . Yet once he returned to Britain and became reunited with his dear bagpipes , his symptoms returned .
scientist then decided to inspect his musical instrument , light upon colony of various species offungiin the cervix and the bag . After the man ’s death , post - mortem analytic thinking let out all-inclusive scarring of the lungs , which Dr. believe were because of repeatedly inhaling these fungi .
In answer to this incident , the study authors counsel all wind instrument participant to clean their setup on a regular basis and allow them to drip dry , as any wet remaining inside these instrument could ply an ideal surroundings for yeasts , mold , and fungi to flourish .
