Living with Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
A rare lung disease in which the immune system overreacts to something in the environment, causing cough and breathlessness.
Understanding Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
People become sensitized to substances in the environment, called antigens, and later react to them. It causes breathing symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. Some people also have whole-body symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue. It can occur at any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD's summary describes:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include allergy and immune system specialists and lung and breathing specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Children's Interstitial Lung Disease Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Allergy and immune system specialists (allergists / immunologists); Lung and breathing specialists (pulmonologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Children's Interstitial Lung Disease Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Children's Interstitial Lung Disease Foundation and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
It is caused by sensitization and later hypersensitivity (overreaction) to environmental antigens.
Also known as: allergic alveolitis; allergic form of pneumonitis; allergic interstitial pneumonitis; allergic pneumonitis; alveolitis; bagpipe lung
Patient organizations
- Children's Interstitial Lung Disease FoundationHypersensitivity pneumonitis · United States
- American Lung AssociationHypersensitivity pneumonitis · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Explore research for Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
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- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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