Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, also known as, Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis, is a kind of interstitial lung disease with symptoms of dyspnea and cough resulting from the inhalation of an antigen to which the person has been previously sensitized. There are a number of known etiological agents leading to hypersensitivity pneumonitis, such as mushroom, fungi, yeasts, bacteria, mycobacteria, bird proteins and chemicals.
Clinically, hypersensitivity pneumonitis is divided into three types – acute, sub -acute and chronic. They differ in the duration of exposure to antigens and their presenting symptoms, and their resulting diagnostic patterns on the High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) of the chest.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a relatively rare disease. It represents 4 – 15% of all Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILDs). Dr. Mosavir Ansarie, the pioneer of ILD registry in Pakistan, made a presentation in order to raise awareness about the disease.
This presentation was made at a workshop conducted by the PSI (Pakistan Society of Immunology) on April 26th, 2014, in collaboration with SIUT (Sind Institute of Urology and Transplantation) under the supervision of Professor Adeeb Rizvi.
