<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease (ILD), consequence of an alveolar allergic reaction against various inhaled allergens occurring in susceptible individuals, manifesting as an acute or chronic granulomatous alveolar allergic process against inflammation of the lung parenchyma. The clinical presentation can mimic acute respiratory infections (in acute form) or an idiopathic ILD (in chronic form); the diagnosis of HP is difficult if the exposure to allergen is not suspected.</p><p>We present the case of a male teenager, pigeon breeder, presenting with recurrent episodes of dyspnoea and fever, initially considered and treated as pneumonia. The diagnosis of HP was based on suggestive imaging changes, lymphocytic alveolitis at bronchoalveolar lavage with a low CD4/CD8 ratio and a thorough anamnesis for exposure and positive IgG serum precipitins against pigeon debris. The patient improved over a few months only by avoiding exposure to the incriminated allergen. ILDs in children and adolescents are considered rare diseases, with HP being one of the possible causes in older children and adolescents.</p></abstract>

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease (ILD), consequence of an alveolar allergic reaction against various inhaled allergens occurring in susceptible individuals, manifesting as an acute or chronic granulomatous alveolar allergic process against inflammation of the lung parenchyma. The clinical presentation can mimic acute respiratory infections (in acute form) or an idiopathic ILD (in chronic form); the diagnosis of HP is difficult if the exposure to allergen is not suspected.We present the case of a male teenager, pigeon breeder, presenting with recurrent episodes of dyspnoea and fever, initially considered and treated as pneumonia. The diagnosis of HP was based on suggestive imaging changes, lymphocytic alveolitis at bronchoalveolar lavage with a low CD4/CD8 ratio and a thorough anamnesis for exposure and positive IgG serum precipitins against pigeon debris. The patient improved over a few months only by avoiding exposure to the incriminated allergen. ILDs in children and adolescents are considered rare diseases, with HP being one of the possible causes in older children and adolescents.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a teenager

Pneumologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Pneumonită de hipersensibilitate la un adolescent

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease (ILD), consequence of an alveolar allergic reaction against various inhaled allergens...

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a teenager

Article Category: Clinical Cases

Published Online: Oct 11, 2019

Page range: 75 - 81

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pneum-2019-0005

Keywords
hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pigeon breeder’s disease, interstitial lung diseases in children

© 2019 Salmen and Strâmbu, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a teenager

Article Category: Clinical Cases

Published Online: Oct 11, 2019

Page range: 75 - 81

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pneum-2019-0005

Keywordshypersensitivity pneumonitis, pigeon breeder’s disease, interstitial lung diseases in children

© 2019 Salmen and Strâmbu, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pigeon breeder’s disease, interstitial lung diseases in children