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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffPneumonitis (noo-moe-NIE-tis) is a general term that refers to inflammation of lung tissue. Although pneumonia is technically a type of pneumonitis because the infection causes inflammation, most doctors are referring to other causes of lung inflammation when they use the term "pneumonitis."
Factors that can cause pneumonitis include:
- Occupational exposure to airborne particles, such as asbestos or silica
- Some drugs, particularly chemotherapy drugs
- Radiation therapy to the chest
- Exposure to poultry, pigeons or pet birds
- Many types of mold
Difficulty breathing — often accompanied by a cough — is the most common symptom of pneumonitis. But having these problems doesn't necessarily mean that you have pneumonitis. Specialized tests are necessary to make a diagnosis.
- Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 31st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007:1496.
- Rosenow EC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 21, 2009.
- Hanak V, et al. Causes and presenting features in 85 consecutive patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2007;7:812.
- King TE. Treatment and prognosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 16, 2009.
- King TE. Classification and clinical manifestations of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 16, 2009.
- King TE. Epidemiology and causes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 16, 2009.
- Zacharisen MC. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2008. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/131990851-4/830277553/1621/161.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4435-2..50084-4_1127. Accessed April 16, 2009.
- Machtay M. Pulmonary complications of anticancer treatment. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/131990851-5/830280251/1709/67.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06694-8..50066-X--cesec10_2058. Accessed April 16, 2009.
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ipf/ipf_all.html. Accessed April 16, 2009.
- Pulmonary complications. Townsend CM, et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/132163627-4/830632837/1565/144.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3..50019-8--cesec43_644. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- King TE. Diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- Madison JM. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: Clinical perspectives. Archives of Pathological Lab Medicine. 2008;132:195.
