Mere Hobbies Can Kill, True Story Reveals As Man Died From Using His Bagpipes

A 61-year-old man died due to hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an illness similar to pneumonia. Surprisingly, it was caused by his favorite hobby, which was playing his bagpipes.

According to The Guardian, the trigger for the rare disease was a mystery at first. But later on, doctors found out that it was the collection of fungi inside the man's bagpipes. Because of this, they proposed to add "bagpipe lung" to the list of alternative names for hypersensitivity pneumonitis. At present, it is also known as "farmer's lung", "bird fancier's lung", and "hot tub lung".

The man was first diagnosed with the illness in 2009 and his condition got worse until he ended up in the hospital in 2014. CNN reported that while he was in the hospital, doctors took samples from his bagpipes and ran some tests. From the samples, several fungi grew. It was also found that when the man had a trip in Australia and did not bring his bagpipes, his symptoms improved. But when he started playing his instruments again, his breathing quickly suffered.

The postmortem examination results showed tissue scarring and excessive lung damage. The findings are associated with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

The piper's case has led to giving emphasis to a person's hobbies and interests. According to Dr. Jenny King, a specialist trainee in respiratory medicine at the University Hospital of South Manchester, it is important for doctors to thoroughly discuss important details about patients including their hobbies and histories. She added that the man's symptoms could have been treated if they were caught earlier.

Meanwhile, this currently serves as a warning to musicians particularly those who play wind instruments. It is important to immediately clean, disinfect, and dip dry musical instruments after use. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a serious inflammation of the lungs that causes breathlessness and recurring dry cough. Musical instruments are at risk for the buildup of mold and fungi that cause the possibly fatal lung illness.