Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis results from the inhalation of certain type of organic dust which gives rise to diffuse immune complex in the body. As a result it affects the walls of the alveoli and bronchioles. It mostly occurs in farm workers, bird fanciers. Chronic forms of the disease may be accompanied by a fibrotic response in the lung and also lower incidence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in smokers and non-smokers. Some of clinical features of this disease are headache, Myalgia, malaise, dry cough and breathlessness. To prevent this disease hypoxemic patients may require high concentration oxygen therapy initially. Most of the patients recovered completely, but the development of interstitial fibrosis causes permanent disability when there has been prolonged exposure to antigen.