Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

This book describes Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), previously termed extrinsic allergic alveolitis, happens when the lungs form an immune response (hypersensitivity) to something the patient breathes in which causes inflammation of the lung tissue (pneumonitis).
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis is an inflammatory disorder of the lung caused by the inhalation of irritating microscopic particles or antigens.
These antigens may be from many different sources.
The most frequent sources are any of a number of different types of mold or proteins from animals (particularly birds).
Once inhaled, these antigens cause inflammation and can finally cause major damage to the lung.
It is important to confirm a diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis early since it has a very good prognosis if caught and treated before its later stages.
In its later stages, the lung damage from hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be irreversible and may result in a significantly reduced quality of life.
It is not contagious, even though it is possible that other people around the patient may be exposed to the same antigens
Some hypersensitivity pneumonitis is:
Bird fancier's lung:
This is the most frequent type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
It is caused by repeated or intense exposure to proteins present in the feathers or droppings of many species of birds.
Farmer's lung:
This type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis is induced by exposure to dust from moldy hay, straw, and grain.
There are 3 types, based on how long the patient has had the disease and how severe the symptoms are.
1. Acute.
This type is brief and severe.
It feels like the patient caught the flu, and it happens after the patient has been around a lot of dust.
The symptoms should get better in a couple of days if the patient does not breathe in any more dust but will probably return if the patient does.
The symptoms could include:
1. Cough
2. Shortness of breath
3. Tight feeling in the chest
4. Fever
5. Chills
6. Sweating
7. Tiredness
The patient might have these symptoms from 12 hours to several days.
2. Sub-acute.
It can happen when the patient have low-level contact with the dust over time.
It may begin with a fever.
Then shortness of breath, tiredness, and coughing can begin over weeks or months.
This type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis is likely to get worse with time.
3. Chronic.
This is a long-lasting type that happens after a low but long duration of contact with dust.
The patient may get symptoms like shortness of breath, tiredness, coughing, and weight loss that slowly get worse.
This type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis can cause permanent lung scarring.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis normally happens in people who work in places where there are high levels of organic dusts, fungus, or molds.
Long-term exposure can cause lung inflammation and acute lung disease.
Diagnosis
The doctor will check the oxygen levels in the blood.
Aspergillosis precipitin blood test to check for the aspergillus fungus
Full blood count
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis antibody blood test
Krebs von den Lungen-6 assay (KL-6) blood test
A lung function test may help the doctor decide how severely the lungs are involved.
Bronchoscopy with washings, biopsy, and bronchoalveolar lavage
Surgical lung biopsy
Treatment:
In most cases, hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be treated by simply avoiding inhalation of the responsible antigen, mainly soon after start of the disease
In more severe cases steroids can be given to reduce lung inflammation.
Immunosuppressants like rituximab may help.
Breathing exercises can also help

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 S

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: May 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463344477

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis,

A

Simple

Guide

To

The Condition,

Diagnosis,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2019 Smashwords Edition

Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

(What You Need to Treat Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis)

This e-Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

I have been writing medical articles for my blog: http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Disorder) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

I then wrote an autobiography account of my journey as a medical student to family doctor on my other blog: http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

This autobiography account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.

From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 800 eBooks.

Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

The later books go into more details of medical disorders.

The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

As I tried to bring the patient the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

Chapter 1

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

What Is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), previously termed extrinsic allergic alveolitis, happens when the lungs form an immune response (hypersensitivity) to something the patient breathes in which causes inflammation of the lung tissue (pneumonitis).

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis is an inflammatory disorder of the lung caused by the inhalation of irritating microscopic particles or antigens.

These antigens may be from many different sources.

The most frequent sources are any of a number of different types of mold or proteins from animals (particularly birds).

Once inhaled, these antigens cause inflammation and can finally cause major damage to the lung.

It is important to confirm a diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis early since it has a very good prognosis if caught early and treated before its later stages.

In its later stages, the lung damage from hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be irreversible and may result in a significantly reduced quality of life.

It is not contagious, even though it is possible that other people around the patient may be exposed to the same antigens

Some hypersensitivity pneumonitis is:

Bird fancier's lung:

This is the most frequent type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

It is caused by