Pneumonitis

Pneumonitis is inflammation of the lungs. Infection or exposure to certain substances or allergens can cause this condition. Allergens are substances that you are allergic to.

What are the causes?

This condition may be caused by:

• An infection from bacteria or a virus (pneumonia).
• Exposure to certain substances in the workplace. This includes working on farms and in certain industries. Some substances that can cause this condition include asbestos, silica, inhaled acids, or inhaled chlorine gas.
• Repeated exposure to bird feathers, bird feces, or other allergens.
• Medicines such as chemotherapy drugs, certain antibiotic medicines, and some heart medicines.
• Radiation therapy.
• Exposure to mold. A hot tub, sauna, or home humidifier can have mold growing in it, even if it looks clean. You can breathe in the mold through water vapor.
• Breathing in (aspirating) stomach contents, food, or liquids into the lungs.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing. This is the most common symptom.
• Cough.
• Fever.
• Decreased energy.
• Decreased appetite.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

• Your medical history.
• Physical exam.
• Blood tests.
• Other tests, including:
  • Pulmonary function test (PFT). This measures how well your lungs work.
  • Chest X-ray.
  • CT scan of the lungs.
  • Bronchoscopy. In this procedure, your health care provider looks at your airways through an instrument called a bronchoscope.
  • Lung biopsy. In this procedure, your health care provider takes a small piece of tissue from your lungs to examine it.

How is this treated?

Treatment depends on the cause of the condition. If the cause is exposure to a substance, avoiding further exposure to that substance will help reduce your symptoms. Possible medical treatments for pneumonitis include:

• Corticosteroid medicine to help decrease inflammation.
• Antibiotic medicine to help fight an infection caused by bacteria.
• Bronchodilators or inhalers to help relax the muscles and make breathing easier.
• Oxygen therapy, if you are having trouble breathing.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take or use over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider. This includes any inhaler use.
• Avoid exposure to any substance that caused your pneumonitis. If you need to work with substances that can cause pneumonitis, wear a mask to protect your lungs.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
• If you were prescribed an inhaler, keep it with you at all times.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have a fever.
• Your symptoms get worse.

Get help right away if:

• You have new or worse shortness of breath.
• You develop a blue color (cyanosis) under your fingernails.

Summary

• Pneumonitis is inflammation of the lungs. This condition can be caused by infection or exposure to certain substances or allergens.
• The most common symptom of this condition is shortness of breath or trouble breathing.
• Treatment depends on the cause of your condition.