$Unique_ID{BRK03446} $Pretitle{} $Title{Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic} $Subject{Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic Extrinsic Allergic Pneumonia Allergic Interstitial Pneumonitis Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Bagassosis Bathtub Refinisher's Lung Bird Breeder Disease Cheese Worker's Lung Enzyme Detergent Sensitivity Epoxy Resin Lung Farmer Lung Laboratory Technician's Lung Maltworker Lung Maple Bark Stripper Disease Mushroom Picker Disease Mushroom Worker's Lung Pituitary Snuff Taker's Lung Plastic Worker's Lung Poultry Raiser Disease Sequoiosis Suberosis Ventilation Pneumonitis Wheat Weevil Disease Fibrosing Alveolitis Sarcoidosis Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonia Asthma} $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1987, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 431: Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible the main title of the article (Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next page to find alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article. Synonyms Extrinsic Allergic Pneumonia Allergic Interstitial Pneumonitis Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis DISORDER SUBDIVISIONS Bagassosis Bathtub Refinisher's Lung Bird Breeder Disease Cheese Worker's Lung Enzyme Detergent Sensitivity Epoxy Resin Lung Farmer Lung Laboratory Technician's Lung Maltworker Lung Maple Bark Stripper Disease Mushroom Picker Disease Mushroom Worker's Lung Pituitary Snuff Taker's Lung Plastic Worker's Lung Poultry Raiser Disease Sequoiosis Suberosis Ventilation Pneumonitis Wheat Weevil Disease Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related Disorders section of this report: Asthma Fibrosing Alveolitis Sarcoidosis Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonia General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources section of this report. Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis is a lung disorder resulting from repeated inhalation of organic dust, usually in a specific occupational setting. In the acute form, respiratory symptoms and fever start several hours after exposure to the dust. The chronic form is characterized by gradual changes in the lung tissue associated with several years of exposure to the irritant. Symptoms In general, symptoms of all forms of Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis include breathing difficulty, wheezing, and dry coughs which appear to shake the entire body. Chills, sweating, aching, discomfort and/or fatigue may accompany lung symptoms. Most cases of this disorder are characterized by mild, short episodes which may be misdiagnosed. Chronic cases may develop with repeated episodes or prolonged exposure to a specific organic dust. These may involve more severe symptoms including fever, crackling sounds during breathing (rales), breathing difficulty, bluish appearance of the skin (cyanosis), and possibly, expectoration of blood. Causes Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis is caused by repeated exposure to organic substances including a wide variety of those substances usually associated with specific occupational settings may be linked to this disorder. These may include irritants associated with birds (avian dust), cheese manufacturing (mold), sugar manufacturing (moldy sugar cane dust), bath tub refinishing (paint catalyst), farming (moldy hay dust), mushroom farming (mushroom compost), laboratory technician (rat or gerbil urine residue), tobacco (snuff), heating and cooling systems (moldy water), malt working/beer brewing (moldy barley), maple bark disease (moldy maple bark dust), sequoiosis (moldy redwood bark dust), Suberosis (moldy cork dust), plastic working (plastic residue), epoxy resin (heated epoxy residue), enzyme detergent (dust), or wheat weevil disease (wheat mold or dust). Affected Population Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis may affect males and females in equal numbers, but usually affects individuals in occupations where an irritant substance is inhaled by people who are allergic to the substance. Related Disorders Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis: Asthma is characterized by breathing difficulty caused by a wide variety of factors, often associated with allergies. In general, the air passages become narrowed and may return to normal spontaneously, although treatment is often necessary. Long-term cases can diminish in severity, depending on the underlying cause and method of treatment. There is no known cure, but attacks may be controlled to various degrees. Fibrosing Alveolitis, also known as Acute Pulmonary Alveolitis, is an inflammatory lung disorder characterized by abnormal formation of fibrous tissue between tiny air sacs (alveoli) or ducts in the lungs. Coughing and rapid, shallow breathing may develop even with moderate exercise. The skin may become bluish (cyanotic) due to lack of oxygen circulating in the blood. Complications such as infections, emphysema or heart problems may develop. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Fibrosing Alveolitis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Sarcoidosis is a disorder that affects many body systems. It is characterized by small round lesions (tubercles) in tissue. Symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the disease and the proportion of the body that is affected. Widespread lung involvement may occur with or follow lymph node involvement. This infiltration may have a fine "ground-glass" appearance on X-rays, and may appear to have an unusual pattern, or resemble tumors. Lung involvement is usually characterized by coughing and breathing difficulty, although these symptoms can be mild or even absent. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Sarcoidosis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonia is a chronic form of pneumonia. The exact cause of this disorder is not known. Symptoms are caused by shedding of large alveolar cells (desquamation) in the lungs and thickening of the walls of the air passages. This disorder is characterized by breathing difficulty and accompanied by a harsh cough that does not seem to clear the obstruction. Therapies: Standard Treatment of Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis initially depends on identification of organic substance causing the allergic reaction. If possible, the patient should avoid exposure to the allergen. In an occupational setting, mild cases may be alleviated by improved ventilation or use of air filtering masks. In severe or prolonged cases, however, changing jobs may be the best option. If symptoms persist in spite of avoidance, corticosteroid drugs may be tried. In acute cases, steroids in combination with avoidance measures can often reduce the severity of symptoms. All symptoms can usually be resolved in acute cases if they are diagnosed and treated early before permanent changes in the lungs can develop. If permanent lung changes have occurred at the time of diagnosis, it is possible that the patient may not respond well to treatment. Therapies: Investigational This disease entry is based upon medical information available through October 1987. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 American Lung Association 1740 Broadway New York, NY 10019 (212) 315-8700 NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases (NIAID) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 496-5717 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Public Affairs Office P.O. Box 12233 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (919) 541-3345 References EXTRINSIC ALLERGIC ALVEOLITIS IN CHILDREN. APROPOS OF 4 CASES: M. Bost, et al.; Pediatrie (June 1984, issue 39(4)). Pp. 253-260. ALLERGIC ALVEOLITIS (PATHOGENESIS AND DIAGNOSIS): K.C. Bergman; A Gesamte Inn Med (January 15, 1980, issue 35 (2)). Pp. 77-80. DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH TO NEW OR UNRECOGNIZED RISKS IN HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMOPATHIES: C. Molina; Rev Fr Mal Respir (1983, issue 11 (4)). Pp. 427- 438.