Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

[Guest guest]

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

June 2005

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E & b=849121

• What Is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?

• What Are The Symptoms?

• Who Gets Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?

• What Causes Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?

• How Is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Diagnosed?

• Is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Preventable?

• What Can Be Done To Treat Hypersensitivity Penumonitis?

• Does Smoking Affect Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?

WHAT IS HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS?

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (also called allergic alveolitis) is a

disease in which the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs become inflamed

when certain dusts are inhaled to which the person is sensitized or

allergic.

These dusts contain organic substances, such as fungus spores from

moldy hay or the droppings of birds.

When a person inhales such dusts the first time, no problem is

noticed. But, after repeated exposure to the dust some people may

develop symptoms. The tiny air sacs in the lung known as alveoli

become inflamed, their walls fill with white blood cells, and

sometimes the sacs fill with fluid. If the disease recurs as a

result of continued or repeated exposure to the offending dusts,

parts of the lung may develop fibrous scar tissue and can no longer

function normally in breathing.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

The symptoms of an acute attack are similar to those of the flu and

appear some 4-6 hours after the person breathes the offending dust.

These symptoms include chills, fever, dry cough, shortness of

breath, a tight feeling in the chest, and tiredness. The symptoms

may persist for as little as 12 hours or as long as 10 days. Between

attacks the person may have no symptoms and feel quite normal.

After repeated exposure to the dust, chronic cough may develop with

excessive sputum production containing pus, and eventually there may

be chronic shortness of breath. The person may also show loss of

appetite and weight loss.

WHO GETS HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS?

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs most often in people exposed to

certain organic dusts in their daily work or living, especially

dusts which contain fungus spores from mold.

Only a small proportion of people who are exposed, perhaps 5 to 20

percent, develop the disease. When there is frequent exposure to

high concentrations of the offending substances, the likelihood of

developing hypersensitivity pneumonitis is greatest.

WHAT CAUSES HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS?

The disease is caused by organic material that is inhaled as a fine

dust. Sensitization (allergy) develops over a period of several

months to a number of years.

Farmer's lung is the best-known example. It is caused by an organism

that grows on hay, straw, or grains, and by other organic materials

found on farms. Also known to cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis are

dusts from moldy sugar cane and barley, maple bark, cork, animal

hair, bird feathers and droppings, mushroom compost, coffee beans,

and paprika. Often the disease is named for the occupations: for

example mushroom-worker's lung or paprika-splitter's lung. The

organism of farmer's lung also grows in the water of both commercial

and home humidification systems, particularly if they are not

adequately maintained.

HOW IS HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS DIAGNOSED?

A careful, detailed history is necessary so that the occurrence of

symptoms can be related to environmental exposure. Laboratory tests

of the patient's blood and identification of specific molds from

material at the workplace may help. Chest X-ray films and lung

function tests may show effects of the disease during acute episodes

or in the chronic stage of the disease – but they may be normal

between episodes when the patient is without symptoms. Also chest X-

ray and pulmonary function test results are not specific for

hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and positive results may be due to

other causes. Inhalation of the materials to which the person is

sensitive (challenge test) may be necessary to confirm the

diagnosis. The challenge test should be done only under the expert

medical supervision of a specialist. Sometimes, a lung biopsy is

needed to distinguish it from other lung diseases.

IS HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS PREVENTABLE?

Properly dried and stored farm products are unlikely to cause

hypersensitivity pneumonitis because the particular organism causing

farmer's lung grows only in moist conditions. Other approaches to

prevention are to reduce exposure by proper ventilation and the use

of respiratory protection (masks).

If a worker begins to have symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis

due to occupational exposure, the process can be stopped if it is

identified early enough. Permanent lung damage is prevented by

eliminating the exposure. If control measures do not work or are not

feasible, it may be necessary to change jobs, even though doing so

may be difficult for many reasons. Therefore the medical necessity

for a change should be determined only after careful evaluation to

establish the diagnosis and specific cause.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TREAT HYPERSENSITIVITY PENUMONITIS?

Avoidance of the offending dust is the single most important measure

because in the early stages the disease is completely reversible.

Most drugs are of limited value in treatment; antihistamines and

bronchodilators are ineffective. Steroids can relieve the symptoms

of acute attacks but do not cure the disease. Recovery from acute

attacks may take as long as three weeks. Residual lung damage in the

form of pulmonary fibrosis is permanent and may occur even after

symptoms have disappeared. Avoiding exposure in the first place

eliminates any possibility of later permanent damage.

DOES SMOKING AFFECT HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS?

There is no evidence that cigarette smoking helps cause

hypersensitivity pneumonitis. It may, however, aggravate the

symptoms of a person who has the disease. And smokers are likely to

get complicating lung diseases, such as emphysema, chronic

bronchitis, or lung cancer.

The mission of the American Lung Association is to prevent lung

disease and promote lung health.

Click here to contact a Local Lung Association in your area or call

1-800-LUNGUSA.

[Guest guest]

I feel your pain, its not fun.

I highly recomend Dr Ziems Protocol. Anit-oxidants, Glutarthione and pure B-12 .

It really does help.  It dosn't cure but it turns it down a few notches.  plus I

got really good at avoiding. 

Hope that helps

a

From: regc80 <regc80@...>

Subject: [] Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 3:09 PM

I have HP and am very sensitive. I'm wondering if anybody has done

anything or found that taking any supplements that has helped decrease

their sensitivity? This is pretty miserable, and I know I look really

crazy in my efforts to avoid places/things that could expose me to an

acute attack! Nobody understand it.

[Guest guest]

Cholestyramine, then an hour later, Fish Oil, then an hour after that,

small amount of Metamucil..

I do that every day during the fall around here..

When there isn't mold in the air then I can slack off on the

cholestyramine to once every day or less... but I keep taking the

fish oil and metamucil or fiber..

Also, I take lots of antioxidants, for example a high dose of Vitamin

C, 400 IU Vitamin E, zinc, selenium, NAC (n-acetylcysteine), alpha

lipoic acid, coQ10, also quercetin,whey protein, also 1000 IU Vit D,

etc.

also various amino acids..

On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 7:09 PM, regc80 <regc80@...> wrote:

> I have HP and am very sensitive. I'm wondering if anybody has done

> anything or found that taking any supplements that has helped decrease

> their sensitivity? This is pretty miserable, and I know I look really

> crazy in my efforts to avoid places/things that could expose me to an

> acute attack! Nobody understand it.

>

>