Extrinsic allergic alveolitis; Farmer's lung; Mushroom picker's disease; Humidifier or air-conditioner lung; Bird breeder's lung
Symptoms of acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis may occur 4 - 6 hours after you have left the area where the foreign substance is found. These symptoms may include:
Symptoms of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis may include:
Your doctor may hear abnormal lung sounds called crackles (rales) when listening to your chest with a stethoscope.
Lung changes due to chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis may be seen on chest x-ray. Other tests may include:
Hoppin JA, Umbach DM, Kullman GJ, et al. Pesticides and other Agricultural Factors Associated with Self-reported Farmer's lung among Farm Residents in the Agricultural Health Study. Occup Environ Med. 2006 Dec 20;[Epub ahead of print].
Lacasse Y, Cormier Y. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2006 Jul 3;1:25.