Chuchalin exogenous allergic alveolitis honey standards. Allergic alveolitis - what do we risk by keeping birds at home? What provokes exogenous allergic alveolitis

Allergic alveolitis(AA) occurs against the background of an inflammatory process localized in the lungs of a person, which affects the alveoli, lung tissue. An allergic reaction is manifested as a result of the ingress of various allergens into the patient's respiratory tract.

The initial stages of the disease are insidious (it is difficult to recognize the root cause of the pathology). A timely visit to a specialist can save a person's life. When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, immediately seek medical help. Self-treatment threatens with phimosis of the lungs, death.

Causes and possible allergens

The main provoking negative factor in the appearance of allergic alveolitis is the ingress of various allergens into the respiratory tract of a person (even a very small particle can lead to a violent reaction of the immune system). AA is the result of heavy pollution environment.

The most susceptible to the disease are people working in a variety of industries, including organizations related to agriculture. Experts trace the relationship of the disease with environmental, domestic problems.

Allergic alveolitis in children develops against the background of a current. Adults suffer from severe allergic reactions as a result of constant work in hazardous enterprises, inhalation of huge amounts of dust particles saturated with various proteins (allergens).

Depending on the specific factor that causes a violent reaction of the immune system, experts have identified several forms of the disease:

bagassosis - the disease occurs against the background of inhalation of microfiber sugar cane by a person;
"farmer's lung" - is formed during prolonged contact with rotten hay;
suberosis - the bark of the cork tree acts as an allergen;
“lung of bird lovers” - from the name it is clear that the disease is caused by small particles of bird feathers, their droppings, fluff, skin secretions;
"malt lung" - pathology occurs against the background of constant inhalation of barley dust;
"Mushroom picker's lung" - manifests itself in mushroom pickers who inhale fungal spores;
"lung of a laboratory worker" - noted by doctors who are constantly in contact with various chemicals;
“lung of an air conditioner lover” - people who often use air humidifiers and heaters suffer;
"Cheesemaker's lung" - cheese mold acts as an allergen.

Modern medicine knows about 350 types of allergic alveolitis, each has its own name, but the mechanism of the onset of the disease is the same.

Important! The lack of appropriate therapy leads to sharply negative consequences. If you find the first symptoms of allergic alveolitis, be sure to visit the doctor.

Symptoms and forms of the disease

The clinical picture of the pathology resembles a cold. Often, doctors do not immediately make the correct diagnosis, which leads to a deterioration in the patient's well-being. With the help of modern equipment, specialists have learned how to quickly identify a specific allergen, and to stop the unpleasant symptoms of an allergic reaction in a short period of time.

Allergic alveolitis occurs in three forms:

acute. Symptoms appear several hours after contact with a large dose of the allergen. The pathological condition is accompanied by severe headaches, fever, fever. The patient complains of breathing problems, sometimes there is a slight sputum production. After a few days, the symptoms disappear. With constant contact with the allergen, the acute form becomes chronic, causing a lot of inconvenience to a person;
subacute. Manifested after contact with a small amount of the allergen, accompanied by mild, shortness of breath, very rarely - fever. The clinical picture, in this case, mild, passes within a day without the use of any means;
chronic. It occurs against the background of regular contact with a large number of harmful particles, accompanied by a decrease in appetite, constant shortness of breath, wet cough. The pathological condition is progressive in nature, can lead to pulmonary hypertension, heart failure. In most cases, ten years later, patients are diagnosed with pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis.

Diagnostics

It is quite difficult to identify allergic alveolitis, given the symptoms similar to various ailments. To make a correct diagnosis, research is carried out in several stages:

the doctor studies the clinical picture of the patient, without fail takes into account the place of work of the person;
blood, sputum, urine are taken for analysis;
the physician examines the victim's breathing (characteristic wheezing in the lungs may indicate allergic alveolitis);
x-ray chest the patient;
in severe cases, a biopsy is required.

Methods and directions of therapy

The basis of the treatment of allergic alveolitis is the elimination of contact with the allergen., which causes a negative reaction from the patient's immune system. In some cases, with the timely implementation of this recommendation, the disease goes away on its own without the use of any means.

Note! Self-treatment of the disease is unacceptable, seek help from an experienced specialist, impeccably follow the doctor's recommendations.

Depending on the specific allergen, the useful recommendations of doctors differ significantly in each individual case:

some doctors recommend radically changing the type of work activity, eliminating contact with harmful particles;
animals that cause allergic reactions should be disposed of immediately;
when it appears, purchase special ones, often carry out wet cleaning.

The chronic course of allergic alveolitis requires the use of special medications:

are used to relieve unpleasant symptoms (,);
. They are prescribed for the relief of symptoms of the disease in the acute and subacute phase. In severe cases, a course of ten days is recommended;
penicillin antibiotics are used at elevated body temperature, a large number of inhaled allergens.

The patient can ease breathing with the help of Lazolvan, regular use of vitamins A, C, B. Deviations in the immune system require immediate immunorehabilitation therapy.

Folk remedies are used only as an adjuvant therapy, show poor results. If you have serious health problems, contact an experienced specialist, follow his recommendations, give up self-medication.

How and what to treat? Find out effective therapy options.

Instructions for using Zodak allergy tablets are described on the page.

At the address, read about the rules for treating allergies on the face of a newborn while breastfeeding.

Allergic alveolitis in children

Allergic alveolitis in babies is caused by regular exposure to the body of various allergens. Often, pet hair, poor environmental conditions, contact with toxic chemicals act as a provoking factor.

As a treatment for an ailment in children, it acts, which is prescribed for a long course (up to 30 days). Special gymnastics, exercise therapy helps to facilitate the breathing process. The difficulty in treating children is caused by weak immunity. The sooner a pathological process is detected, the less likely there are deviations in the physical, mental, mental development of the child.

Complications and prognosis

With timely treatment of allergic alveolitis, the prognosis for patients is favorable. Negligent attitude towards one's health, lack of medical care leads to the development of complications, including lung cancer, death.

Specific preventive recommendations have not been developed. It is impossible to predict which allergen will react to the immune system person. The only way out is to lead a healthy lifestyle, harden the body, increasing its resistance to the negative effects of the environment.

Once a year, come for an examination to an allergist, watch your health. If you experience any unpleasant symptoms, contact your doctor give up self-medication. Negligent attitude to the disease threatens with a lethal outcome.

Video. TV program "Live healthy" about the symptoms and features of the treatment of allergic alveolitis of the lungs:

Exogenous allergic alveolitis (EAA) is an inflammation of a group of lung alveoli that develops as a result of the deposition of a kind of sediment in them, consisting of immunoglobulins and allergens of exogenous origin. But although the alveoli are the smallest structural units of the lungs and are located at the ends of the bronchioles, the bronchial tree itself remains unaffected in EAA.

Reasons for development

Previously, this disease was called "farmer's lung" and hypersensitivity interstitial pneumonitis. The disease received such a non-standard name due to the fact that the reason for its development is the regular inhalation of fine, complex dust, the components of which can be particles of various origins. That is, EAA is a consequence of exposure to the lungs of environmental pollutants, which, as a rule, enter the body during work in various industries, in particular, on farms and in other organizations related to agriculture. Although its relationship with domestic and environmental problems is also traced.

At the same time, allergic alveolitis in children is a fairly common disease that develops against the background of bronchial asthma. But if in adults the main cause of the formation of pathology is unfavorable working conditions, which consist in the saturation of regularly inhaled air with various proteins, then in children, house dust, which contains allergens, is of greater importance:

dust mites and other insects;
mold and yeast-like fungi;
spores of actinomycetes;
animal and vegetable proteins contained in waste products, feathers, pet fur;
washing powders, the components of which are enzymes;
food products, etc.

Symptoms

Allergic alveolitis of the lungs can occur in acute, subacute or chronic forms. In the acute course of the disease, by the end of the day after contact with the allergen, patients may experience:

elevated temperature;
shortness of breath even at rest;
chills;
weakness and malaise;
mild hyperemia (redness against the background of swelling) of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract;
coughing fits;
blue skin and mucous membranes;
muffled rales in the lungs;
pain in the limbs.

Since the development of allergic alveolitis is accompanied by a deterioration in the purification of the bronchial tree, a few days after the onset of the first signs of the disease, symptoms of infectious and inflammatory processes in the lungs, for example, acute pneumonia or bronchitis, may join them.

Symptoms of a subacute course of the disease are:

shortness of breath accompanying physical activity;
cough with mucus sputum;
wheezing in the lungs.

Due to the fact that it is possible to talk about the subacute course of EAA only a few days after working in adverse conditions and inhaling large amounts of dust, most often the symptoms of allergic alveolitis remain ignored, since their appearance is usually associated with anything, but not with harmful working conditions.

Therefore, a person continues to work in the same place, and this aggravates the course of the disease and causes it to become chronic. characteristic feature This is the discrepancy between the intensity of the often occurring shortness of breath and the magnitude of the physical activity that provoked it. All other manifestations of the disease look blurred, and even wheezing in the lungs now occurs only periodically, and x-ray data are very uncertain. Therefore, it is quite difficult to correctly diagnose chronic allergic alveolitis. However, it can be issued:

constant fatigue;
poor exercise tolerance;
loss of appetite and, accordingly, weight;
flattening of the chest;
the appearance of the "drumsticks" syndrome, that is, the thickening of the fingers and nails.

Syndrome of "drum sticks"

Diagnostics

Diagnosis is mainly based on:

clinical picture;
hematological disorders, expressed in the presence of leukocytosis, eosinophilia, increased ESR, etc.;
detection of serum precipitins to the expected antigens;
functional lung tests;
data on harmful production factors;
the presence of signs of fibrosis on x-rays;
data from a tracheobronchial biopsy, performed if other methods have not provided sufficient information for making a diagnosis, which allow us to judge the presence of pneumonitis.

Analysis of blood serum for specific antibodies

The analysis of serum precipitins to the expected allergens is one of the most important parts of the diagnosis, since they indicate the presence of an immunological reaction of the body to the influencing allergen. So, depending on the type of detected source of stimuli, there are:

Farmer's lung, the cause of which is thermophilic actinomycetes, contained in large quantities in moldy hay, silage, grain.
The lung of a bird lover, breeder or laborer. Such people often come into contact with the droppings of parrots, pigeons, turkeys, chickens and other poultry.
"Air-conditioned" lung. The reason for the development of this form of the disease is contaminated water in moisturizing aerosols, sprinklers or evaporators, in which there are thermophilic actinomycetes, amoebas, Aureobasidium pullulans, etc.
Lung forester. Formed by regular contact with oak, cedar dust and other types of wood.
Light sauna. It develops as a result of frequent inhalation of polluted steam in the sauna containing Aureobasidium pullulans, etc.
"Beetroot" light. It is observed in people working with contaminated beets, releasing thermophilic actinomycetes into the air.
"Coffee" light. Counts occupational disease people working in the coffee industry.
Miller's lung. It develops due to damage to the alveoli by particles of flour weevil living in wheat flour.

There are many more varieties of EAA, but still only on the basis of the detection of specific precipitating antibodies in the blood serum, that is, precipitating certain antigens, it is impossible to talk about the presence of allergic alveolitis, since a similar picture is observed in many people. Thus, the analysis of blood serum allows only to judge the type and amount of the allergen that has entered the body, which, after confirming the diagnosis, helps to determine the cause of the development of the disease.

Functional lung tests

With any form of EAA, patients are found:

decrease in lung volume;
violation of their diffusion ability;
decrease in elasticity;
insufficient saturation of the blood with oxygen during physical exertion.

Initially, functional changes are minor, but as the disease progresses, they worsen. Therefore, in chronic exogenous allergic alveolitis, airway obstruction is often observed.

Differential Diagnosis

EAA requires differential diagnosis from:

sarcoidosis;
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis;
lung damage in DBST;
medical damage to the lungs;
eosinophilic pneumonia;
allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis;
"pulmonary mycotoxicosis";
atypical "farmer's lung";
infectious lesions.

Treatment

Treatment of exogenous allergic alveolitis in general consists in eliminating contact with the harmful substances that caused the development of the disease. If you recognize and stop interacting with the source of allergens in time, this may be enough for a complete recovery without the use of any special medicines. Therefore, patients are often advised to radically change the type of work activity or get rid of pets. If for one reason or another this is not possible, for example, house dust is the source of allergens, it is worth considering buying special air purifiers, etc.

In cases where the symptoms of the disease cause significant discomfort to the patient or do not go away for a long time, it may be necessary to prescribe:

Antihistamines, for example, Claritin, Zyrtec, Ebastine. Preparations of this particular group are used more often than others to eliminate signs of pathology.
Glucocorticoids. They are indicated in the presence of acute and subacute forms of the disease. The most preferable is the use of Medrol, less - Prednisolone. Initially, they are prescribed in the form of an initiating course lasting 10 days, the purpose of which is to relieve acute reactions. If, after this period, it is not possible to cope with the disease with Medrol-based drugs, doctors may decide to extend therapy to 2 weeks or more. After elimination of acute manifestations of EAA from the respiratory organs, they switch to an alternative treatment regimen, in which Medrol is taken in the same doses, but every other day, and with further improvement in the patient's condition, the drug is gradually canceled by reducing the dose by 5 mg per week.
Penicillin antibiotics or macrolides. They are indicated in the presence of a large number of bacteria in the inhaled dust and an increase in temperature in the patient.
β 2 -sympathomimetics, for example, Salbutamol or Berotek. The drugs of this group are used in the presence of an obstructive syndrome, accompanied by paroxysmal shortness of breath or cough.

Also, to facilitate breathing and eliminate coughing, patients are recommended to take Lazolvan and a complex of vitamins A, C, E. If they have abnormal immunograms, in such cases, immunorehabilitation therapy may be offered.

At right approach to the problem and timely elimination of the allergen EAA, which proceeds in an acute form, completely disappears after 3-4 weeks, but in the presence of a chronic disease, doctors cannot even guarantee the safety for the patient's life, since it can lead to the development of pulmonary and cardiac decompensation, which means and increase the likelihood of death.

Allergic alveolitis is inflammation of the bronchioles and alveoli caused by inhaled allergens. Symptoms are mainly such components as a feeling of lack of air, cough, pain in the bronchial area. When the disease is acute, it resembles the flu. To diagnose the disease, you need to undergo computed tomography of the chest area, x-rays, do spirometry, as well as detect antibodies in the blood and take a biopsy of lung tissue. Treatment consists primarily of eliminating the allergen that caused the disease and, in some cases, the use of glucocorticosteroid drugs.

The causes of the occurrence is the penetration of the allergen with the air. Also important is the number of particles in the air, as well as human immunity and the property of the antigen. Most allergens are fungal spores, which are very numerous in dry grass, humus, tree bark. It is not uncommon for the provocateur of the disease to be ordinary household dust and medicines.

Allergic alveolitis is divided into the following types:

"farmer's lung" - occurs due to frequent contact with old hay
"light birder" - occurs in people involved in the breeding and maintenance of birds
bagassosis occurs due to frequent contact with sugar cane
"malt lung" occurs due to frequent contact with fine particles of barley
"lung of a person, frequently used air conditioner"
"Cheese maker's lung" occurs in cheese makers
"mushroom picker's lung" occurs in people who grow mushrooms
many other species caused by contact with harmful allergens

The disease can occur in:

acute form
subacute form
become chronic.

Acute leakage occurs within 12 hours of contact with microparticles foreign bodies, the chronic form occurs as a result of prolonged inhalation of a small dosage of microparticles of foreign bodies, the subacute form appears as a result of a small amount of microparticles in the air.

Symptoms of this type of disease can be:

fever
headaches
joint pain
heat
pain in the bronchi
cough with phlegm
shortness of breath and blueness of the extremities, as well as pain in them.

When the allergen is removed, all symptoms disappear within three days. Weakness of the whole body and difficult breathing may persist for two weeks. The subacute form is most often found on house allergens. At first, there is fever, cough, fatigue. The chronic form of the disease is often a relapse of the other two forms or an independent form. The chronic form is characterized by severe shortness of breath and cough, weight loss and poor health. Fingers on the hands thicken due to lack of air. The result of this form of the disease may be the development of destructive fibrosis, heart failure. In people suffering from the chronic form, chronic bronchitis occurs ten years later.

With the timely elimination of the allergen that caused the development of allergic alveolitis, the outcome is without complications. With repeated disease, the development of cardiac and lung failure. Preventive measures are to exclude the factors that provoked the development of the disease, systematic examinations by a doctor. Allergic alveolitis of the lungs can still cause complications. All respiratory system is affected by the disease and gradually weakens. This leads to the rapid impact of others infectious diseases on the body. The result of this is a weakened body and weight loss. If the treatment was not provided on time, then the acute and subacute form flow into a more complex - chronic form. The chronic course of the disease is much more difficult to cure and block all kinds of attacks that provoked toxic-allergic alveolitis. Early treatment makes it possible to restore the functionality of the lungs slowly but completely. When a person does not want to take treatment for allergic alveolitis, then the human body will be able to resist the allergens that cause the disease. This leads to the growth of the connective tissues of the lung and is able to completely affect the alveolus. Such changes cannot be corrected.

Exogenous allergic alveolitis

This is an allergic disseminated lesion of the acinus and lung tissue, which develops due to intense and prolonged inhalation of dust. More than three hundred foreign microparticles can serve as the causes of occurrence, only about ten are the main ones. This disease is a hypersensitivity reaction of contact with an allergen. People with a genetic predisposition are more prone to complications such as: acute neutrophilic alveolitis or acute mononeclear alveolitis, fibrosis can also develop.

Symptoms of the disease

Atypical inflammation of the lungs over sensitivity is a syndrome that is caused by sensitivity to a substance and is expressed by cough, shortness of breath and general weakness. Symptoms directly depend on the form of the disease. Usually, the first manifestations begin a few weeks after contact with the irritant. The acute form is manifested by high temperature, sensations of pressure in the sternum, lack of air. Such symptoms appear within six hours from the moment the person comes into contact with the irritant.

A chronic course of the disease is also observed, usually people who are in daily contact with the irritant, for example, raising birds, are susceptible to this. The disease progresses for several years and manifests itself as banal shortness of breath during exercise. The patient can also observe weight loss, weakness, and so on.

The subacute form is just a transitional phase from the acute form to the chronic form. Symptoms of this form are also weight loss, cough, weakness of the body. This form continues for several weeks.

Diagnostics

It is possible to diagnose exogenous allergic alveolitis by studying the data of the course of the disease, radiation studies, microscopy and biopsy. Therapy is carried out with the help of glucocortisone and prednisolone, this makes it possible to block the first symptoms of the disease. The main thing in treatment is to avoid contact with the allergen, but, unfortunately, this is not always possible, since the allergen is often associated with the work of a person. In such cases, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of the allergen with a protective mask.

If this type of disease is found in early stage, then all changes in the body return to normal. The chronic form is more complex and can cause complications in the form of fibrosis.

Allergic alveolitis in children

Allergic alveolitis in children can begin at any age. Almost half of the patients are children school age. A third of children suffering from allergic alveolitis have not reached the age of three. The rest are preschoolers. Symptoms directly depend on the allergen that caused the disease, how long it affected the body, and also on the immunity of the child. Symptoms occur a couple of hours after strong contact with the allergen. Most of the children suffering from allergic alveolitis lived in villages and were constantly associated with hay, household chores related to cleaning up after animals and their droppings. Only 20% of the disease was caused by the presence of a parrot in a child. Also, the disease can occur in connection with a change in the area of \u200b\u200bresidence, as well as mold that occurs in damp houses.

The first signs can be confused with symptoms commonly seen in children with the flu. Heat body, muscle pain, migraine and so on. Affected lungs give out the disease with a cough, lack of air for the child, and the presence of wheezing. A child with atopy may experience asthma-like attacks. During an exacerbation, leukocytes with neutrophilia increase.

When interaction with the allergen that caused the disease is completely excluded, all symptoms disappear within a week. If the interaction with the allergen is restored, then relapse cannot be avoided. The recurrence of the disease takes longer and is much more severe. If the interaction with the allergen has not stopped, then over time the disease will take on a chronic form.

Chronic form of the disease

The chronic form of the disease is characterized by severe shortness of breath, as well as a strong cough with mucus. The doctor can listen to wheezing in the lungs. The chronic form gives a complication in the form of compaction of the chest, an increase in the width of the fingers, during exercise, the limbs turn blue, lethargy, low activity, loss of appetite and, as a result, severe loss of body weight. The index of circulation of immune complexes increases during the period of exacerbation. The lining of the bronchi does not change. Almost all patients with an electrocardiogram show changes in the myocardium and tachycardia. Approximately fifteen percent of patients have an overload of the right side of the heart.

X-ray shows small changes in the form of small foci that are located in the middle of the lung. Low transparency of the lung tissue is also often observed. Also, in about ten percent of children, there is a change in the pattern on the lungs. In fifteen percent of children, part of the trachea increases and an increase pulmonary artery.

In the acute form of the disease, after recovery, all changes in the body return to normal, but in the chronic form, changes in the body can continue after contact with the allergen has ceased. But in children, the outcome of the chronic form is easier.

Exogenous allergic alveolitis is a disease characterized by the development of allergic inflammation of the interstitial tissue and lungs. Such an allergic reaction can be caused by numerous factors. In this regard, as soon as EAA manifests itself, it becomes necessary to seek the help of a specialist.

Presented lung disease has a professional character. This is due to the fact that the appearance of the disease has a direct relationship with antigens that are most often found in the household or at work. However, not every person develops the specified disease when in contact with certain substances. This indicates that exogenous allergic alveolitis is formed only in the category of patients that has a predisposition to the disease.

As reasons for the development this disease lungs secrete fungi, bacteria and their products. There are also animal-type antigens. These include bird feathers, excrement and other waste products of pigs, cattle and other domestic animals.

The disease manifests itself through shortness of breath, the patient has difficulty breathing. On the initial stage development of the disease, breathing problems occur only during physical exertion. But with further progression of EAA, it becomes difficult for the patient to breathe even at rest. There is a dry type of cough, a small amount of sputum may be released.

Formed bilateral pain in the chest, which tends to intensify with deep breath. The patient loses body weight, quickly gets tired, feels weak. The performance is declining. There is a decrease in appetite and an increase in body temperature. Sweating intensifies skin acquire a bluish tint. The shape of the fingers may change due to bone growths. The nail plate becomes convex with a long course of the disease.

If symptoms occur in the lungs, the patient should immediately consult a doctor. The specialist collects patient complaints, checks his medical history. A general examination is performed using a phonendoscope to listen to the organ. This procedure is carried out to analyze the condition of the chest and integuments of the skin.

Next, proceed to the analysis. At this stage, sputum and blood are checked. The need for a blood test exists only in the acute course of the process, if there are signs of inflammation. There is an increased number of leukocytes. If the disease has passed into the chronic stage, then in the patient's blood, hemoglobin and red blood cells are found in an increased amount.

A chest x-ray is used to detect changes in the lungs. For a more detailed study of the affected area, computed tomography is used. They resort to the use of spirometry. This technique evaluates the patency of the airways, determines the degree of expansion of the lungs during breathing. Spirometry can be combined with a provocative test. The patient inhales a special aerosol containing an antigen. After the agent is inhaled, spirometry is used again. If the test turned out to be positive, then the patient will feel worse or the indicator of external respiration will decrease.

In addition to the methods presented, blood gas analysis and bronchoscopy are also used. The latter technique allows you to assess the condition of the bronchi with a bronchoscope. Swabs are taken from the walls of the alveoli and bronchi, in order to then study the cellular composition. With this method, you can perform a biopsy.

A biopsy consists of obtaining a small piece of tissue that has been affected. The cellular composition of the tissue is being studied. The technique is used when it is impossible to correctly and accurately diagnose or if the patient has a severe degree of illness.

Elimination of pathology: treatment and prevention

Exogenous allergic alveolitis requires complex treatment.

The patient must exclude any contact with the allergen. In the event that the allergen is not identified, you should go through the necessary procedure for its detection. The absence of an irritating factor will alleviate the patient's condition, direct the treatment in the right direction.

It is required to suppress inflammatory processes. For this, glucocorticosteroid hormones are used. To ensure a decrease in the degree of proliferation of connective tissue, it will be necessary to use antifibrotic agents. Bronchodilators can help relieve shortness of breath. These drugs will provide the desired effect, as a result of which the patient's bronchi will expand. If necessary, inhalation with oxygen is used.

Preventive measures are an easy set of rules to follow. Contact with irritating components should be avoided. This applies to those who like to breed birds, cattle and other animals at home. This also applies to other areas. professional activity, starting from a confectionery enterprise and ending with processed products from timber processing enterprises.

Without treatment, complications dangerous to the health of the patient can develop. A frequent manifestation is the development of respiratory failure, during which the patient's oxygen is in short supply.

The pressure in the pulmonary artery may also increase, indicating the presence of pulmonary hypertension. With pathological processes in the lungs, heart failure can form - cor pulmonale of the chronic type.

Thus, the disease leads to lung damage. The situation of the patient can become dangerous without timely treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately undergo a diagnosis and recognize the cause of the inflammatory process, after which the treatment of the disease will be most effective.

Exogenous allergic alveolitis is a disease of the lungs and bronchi. In this disease, during the inhalation of antigens of an organic and inorganic nature, a hypersensitive reaction appears, which mainly affects the alveoli and bronchioles. The disease is often found among people who are associated with agriculture. Most often it develops during the rainy season, that is, in spring and autumn.

Causes

With prolonged inhalation of foreign particles, the body produces immune complexes, which contribute to damage to the endothelium of the smallest capillaries and the alveolar epithelium of the lungs.

Foreign antigens (particles) that contribute to the development of this inflammatory process include:

Various microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, protozoa), as well as their metabolic products (polysaccharides, proteins, enzymes)
Organic particles of animal and vegetable origin, such as animal hair, sawdust from trees.
inorganic compounds and medical preparations such as antibiotics and hormones.

During the development of the inflammatory process and damage to alveolocytes and respiratory bronchioles, epithelioid-giant cell granulomas are formed. The process of inflammation also passes to the interalveolar septa, which leads to a rough cicatricial restructuring of the lung.

Groups of lesions and forms of the disease

Patients with this disease include:

People who work in agriculture and are closely associated with agricultural labor, for example, farmers, mushroom pickers, poultry farmers.
Food workers such as cheese makers.
Workers in woodworking and paper industries.

In a special group, it is customary to include people who have this disease due to long-term medication.

Exogenous allergic alveolitis also occurs in people who live in damp and dilapidated housing for a long time, breed poultry, parrots. According to the course, the disease is divided into 3 forms: acute, subacute and chronic form.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the disease depend on its form:

At acute form allergies, there is shortness of breath, chills, fever and cough with scanty secretions. Symptoms appear 6-8 hours after antigen inhalation. IN rare cases cyanosis appears. When listening to the lungs, rales can be heard on the entire surface of the lungs. When conducting a laboratory analysis in the blood, an increase in the number of leukocytes can be detected. The x-ray shows little change.
Subacute form accompanied by shortness of breath, which occurs when sports loads, cough with sputum and wheezing in the lungs.
At chronic form there is respiratory and heart failure, shortness of breath, cough, which is permanent. On the x-ray, you can see a more pronounced pneumosclerosis and disseminated focal changes in the lungs.

Diagnostics

The first and most important step in diagnosis is history taking. The doctor asks about possible contact with antigens that could contribute to the onset of the inflammatory process, about symptoms and genetic predisposition. Immunological tests are also often performed.

Using X-ray methods and computed tomography, you can take pictures of the chest, and determine the changes occurring in the lung tissue. Appointed and laboratory diagnostics. An increased number of leukocytes indicates the presence of inflammation. Only after carrying out all the necessary diagnostic measures and a thorough history taking, the doctor can establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate and effective therapy.

Treatment

Treatment of this disease is recommended under medical supervision. Very often prescribed Prednisolone, which is taken for approximately 3 days, according to the scheme of 1 mg per kilogram of the patient's weight. Over the next 3-4 weeks, the dose is gradually reduced.

Often also used Azathioprine, which is consumed at 150 mg per day for about one and a half months, then 100 mg per day for 4-6 months in a row. And then 50 mg per day.

In order to slow down fibrogenesis, it is used D-penicillamine. It should be taken at 150-200 mg per day for about 4 months in a row, then the dose is reduced to 50 mg per day for 24 months.

Folk remedies

Alternative medicine methods also include several recipes that can help in the fight against exogenous allergic alviolitis.

To combat allergies, it is recommended to use a special herbal collection, consisting of coltsfoot, marigold flowers, black elderberry, plantain, nettle, birch leaves, poplar and pine buds, anise fruits, coriander, ginger and marshmallow licorice roots, honey locust pods. All this, in equal proportions, must be mixed, the resulting mixture is poured with cold water.

After the mixture boils, it is necessary to keep it on fire for another 10 minutes. The resulting mixture should be infused for 8 hours in a thermos. Then the product is filtered and supplemented with calendula, licorice and 2 tbsp. l. elecampane in the form of tincture. The decoction should be drunk before meals half an hour before it and before going to bed, 100 milliliters.

There are also a number of other alternative medicines, such as:

A good antiseptic is a tincture prepared with ordinary lingonberries. 10-15 g of this component is poured with 1/4 liter of water. All this should be boiled and after 15 minutes the broth can be consumed.
In order to relieve swelling from the lungs, it is recommended to drink pumpkin juice.

Nutrition of the patient

With exogenous allergic alviolitis, you need to pay great attention to your diet, since this disease is often accompanied by a sharp weight loss.

When the temperature rises, you need to drink a sufficient amount of liquid, water with lemon or cranberry juice is recommended.

Preference should be given to foods that enhance immunity.

You should eat more fresh vegetables and fruits.

Prevention

The main preventive measure is the medical examination of persons who work in hazardous production in agriculture, as well as patients with chronic diseases respiratory tract. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to avoid contact with antigens.