What is 'bagpipe lung'? Musicians warned of dangers

Playing a wind instrument could prove fatal, medics have warned, after a man died from a lung disease triggered by harmful bacteria in his bagpipes.

A report in the journal Thorax describes a newly recognised cause of the potentially fatal lung disease hypersensitivity pneumonitis - playing a contaminated wind instrument.

The article highlights the case of a 61-year-old piper suffering from a dry cough and progressive breathlessness.

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While the trigger for his illness was initially a mystery, reports The Guardian, a series of clues led doctors to discover the cause was most likely a collection of six species of toxic fungi living inside the man’s bagpipes – something the report authors have named "bagpipe lung".

The damage from hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs when the body's immune system goes into overdrive, says the BBC. The inhaled pathogens trigger inflammation that left unchecked causes progressive and irreversible scarring.

"[Musicians] need to be aware that there are risks that instruments can become colonised with mould and fungi and this can be related to serious and potentially fatal lung disease," said Dr Jenny King, of North Manchester general hospital, the lead author of the study.

"There isn't a lot of evidence about the best way to clean these instruments", King added. "What’s described in the literature is taking the instrument apart piece by piece, cleaning it with disinfectant and allowing it to drip dry."

Kevin Lamb, the chairman of the Windband Association, told the BBC all instruments were cleanable and members were directed to information on how to clean their instrument when joining the association.

The case has led doctors to propose bagpipe lung be added to the long list of alternative monikers for hypersensitivity pneumonitis, says the Guardian. The disease is already known as bird fancier's, farmer's and even hot-tub lung after the wide range of activities to which it has previously been linked.