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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffThe most common sign of pneumonitis is shortness of breath, which may be accompanied by a dry cough. If pneumonitis is undetected or left untreated, you may gradually develop chronic pneumonitis. This is especially common in cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, in which you may be continually exposed to a lung irritant without realizing it. Signs and symptoms of chronic pneumonitis include:
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
When to call a doctor
Call your doctor anytime you have difficulty breathing.
References
- Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 31st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:1496.
- Rosenow EC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 14, 2011.
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hp/hp_all.html. Accessed March 31, 2011.
- Rose CS, et al. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In: Mason RJ, et al. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192068760-2/0/1288/0.html. Accessed March 31, 2011.
- King TE. Epidemiology and causes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 31, 2011.
- Machtay M. Pulmonary complications of anticancer treatment. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1709/0.html. Accessed March 31, 2011.
- Selman M, et al. Diagnosis and management of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. In: Mason RJ, et al. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192068760-2/0/1288/0.html. Accessed March 31, 2011.
- King TE. Diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 31, 2011.
- King TE. Treatment and prognosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 31, 2011.
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