Pigeon menace: A health hazard thriving in plain sight

Pigeons are a common sight on the balcony of almost every Indian house. In many households, feeding pigeons is a common practice, often seen as an act of kindness or a spiritual offering. However, this well-meaning gesture can inadvertently lead to health risks, particularly related to lung diseases caused by pigeon droppings.
In 2023, a 42-year-old woman from Jarod village in Vadodara district of Gujarat underwent a lung transplant at a city hospital for a condition caused by pigeon droppings.
The hospital where she was treated called for maintaining a clean environment as long-term exposure to pigeon feces, dust, and feathers can lead to irreversible lung damage, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and chronic respiratory failure.
Over time, pigeon populations can grow in areas where they are regularly fed, increasing the accumulation of droppings and the associated health hazards.

Pigeon populations can grow in areas where they are regularly fed, increasing the accumulation of droppings and the associated health hazards. (Photo: PTI)

In fact, exposure to these droppings can lead to serious respiratory conditions due to the pathogens they harbor.
HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS AND OTHER HEALTH RISKS
Pigeon droppings are laced with fungi, which if inhaled for some time, can affect the immune system.
Various studies have shown that pigeon feces can contain harmful fungi such as cryptococcus and histoplasma, which thrive in droppings and can be released into the air as dust particles when the feces dry out.
Inhaling these fungal spores can lead to lung infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems.
Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital released a study in July that identified a connection between prolonged 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 linked to his contact with pigeon feathers and droppings.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a form of long-term 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 was helped reduce inflammation in the boy’s lungs.
One of the most common diseases linked to 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 lead to meningitis, which affects the brain and spinal cord.

Inhaling fungal spores from pigeon droppings can lead to lung infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. (Photo: PTI)

Another illness, 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. Lungs gradually gets scarred. It is not an infection but its a disease that progresses. It is dangerous and should get medical attention. If it is not checked it can progress to such an extent that you might need a lung transplant,” Dr Neetu Jain, Senior Consultant Pulmonology, PSRI Hospital, told India Today’s Sneha Mordani.
While healthy individuals might experience mild or no symptoms, those with pre-existing lung conditions or compromised immune systems are at higher risk for severe complications.
HOW TO REDUCE HEALTH RISK FROM PIGEON DROPPINGS?
To minimise the risks associated with pigeon droppings, precautions are essential.

Wearing protective gear, such as masks and gloves, is crucial to avoid inhaling spores. (Photo: PTI)

Wearing protective gear, such as masks and gloves, while cleaning areas contaminated by pigeon feces is crucial to avoid inhaling spores.
Experts advise 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 likelihood of exposure.
Regular cleaning and maintenance of areas where pigeons frequently roost can lower the risk as well. Other preventive measures, like installing bird deterrents, can help curb the risk of lung infections caused by pigeon droppings.