PNEUMONITIS

- NELSON LOBO
INTRODUCTION

• Pneumonitis in general is defined as inflammation of the lung tissues

• If the inflammation is unresolved, it can cause an irreparable damage such
as pulmonary fibrosis.
• Pneumonitis is distinguished from pneumonia on the basis of causation as
well as its manifestation.
• Pneumonia can be described as pneumonitis combined with consolidation
and exudation of lung tissue due to infection with micro-organisms.
CAUSES

Alveoli are the primary structure affected by pneumonitis. Any particle that are
smaller than 5 microns can enter the alveoli of the lungs. Due to which it
becomes more difficult for the oxygen exchange to occur since the irritants have
cause inflammation of the alveoli.
Some of the causes are :-
• Viral infections - measles
• Radiation therapy
• Inhaling chemicals - such as sodium hydroxide
• Hypersensitivity to inhaled agents (hypersensitivity pneumonitis-most
common
• Adverse reaction to medications
• Mercury exposure
• smoking
PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS

Physical manifestations of pneumonitis range from mild cold-like symptoms

to respiratory failure.
Most frequently, Patient with pneumonitis experience
• Shortness of breath
• Dry cough (sometimes)
Symptoms usually appear a few hours after the exposure and peak at
approximately eighteen to twenty-four hours.
Other symptoms may include:-
• Malaise
• Fever
• Flushed and/or discolored skin
• Sweating
• Small and fast inhalation

Without proper treatment at the acute stage, may become chronic

pneumonitis, resulting in fibrosis of the lungs and end stage fibrosis and
respiratory failure eventually leads to death.
DIAGNOSIS

• Diagnosis of pneumonitis is often difficult as it depends on a high degree

of clinical suspicion when evaluating a patient with a recent onset of a
possible interstitial lung disease.
• A chest X-Ray or CT scan is necessary to differentiate between
pneumonitis and pneumonia of an infectious etiology.

Diagnostic procedures currently available include:-

1. Evaluation of patient history and possible exposure to a known
causative agent.
2. Chest X-Ray and HRCT (high resolution computed tomography)
may show :-
o Centrilobular nodules and ground glass opacity (hazy gray
areas)
o Fibrosis may be evident
o Reticular or linear opacities
o Interlobular septa may also thicken
Lung biopsy
histological samples of lung tissue with pneumonitis include presence of
poorly formed granulomas or mononuclear cell infiltrates.

Blood test and Bronchoscopy(Later stage)

mainly done to check the hypersensitive pneumonitis. Bronchoscopy is
done depending upon the severity of infection.
CENTRILOBULAR NODULES
NORMAL X-RAY
RETICULAR OPACITY
LINEAR OPACITY
NORMAL CHEST CT INTERLOBULAR SEPTUM THICKENING
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