Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Death Via Moldy Bagpipes
A large number of news media outlets covered the story of a man from Liverpool, England, who suffered for seven years from a condition known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, including dry cough, shortness of breath and weakness.
His symptoms improved when on vacation without his bagpipes, causing doctors to suspect that they might have been contributing to his illness. The bagpipes were found to be heavily colonized with mold and yeast.
Unfortunately, the man died of his condition. The story received widespread media attention in August 2016.
Reports from many mold illness patients suggest that buildings with general toxic mold problems tend to foster heavy colonization of mold growth on belongings and also to make it especially likely that opportunistic fungal infections will occur in the human body.
Whether a general toxic mold problem in the home of this bagpipe player was at the root of the issue is unknown.
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