Allergic alveolitis is an inflammatory process in the lungs, as a result of which the alveoli and respiratory tissues are affected. This process occurs due to the ingestion of various allergens into the respiratory tract. What is characteristic, the signs of the initial phase of the disease are rather difficult to recognize, what is all its cunning.
At the same time, if you see a doctor in time, you can save a person’s life. For this reason, it is worth immediately visiting the hospital if it detects the first unpleasant symptoms. It is also highly not recommended to self-medicate, which some people sin. Otherwise, it not only threatens with phimosis of the lungs - everything can end in death.
Symptomatology
If we consider the clinical picture of the disease, then it can resemble the signs of a common cold or flu. As a result, doctors are not always able to establish an accurate diagnosis, which is why the patient's well-being worsens. Characteristic signs largely depend on the form of the course of allergic lung alveolitis:
Thanks to modern equipment, specialists can identify a specific type of allergen in a matter of minutes and stop allergy symptoms in a short time.
Subacute form of the disease
Here we are talking about contact with a small amount of allergen against the background of the appearance of an allergic cough, shortness of breath after exercise. In extremely rare cases, a fever may appear. The overall clinical picture looks mild and goes away during the day without using any means.
Acute alveolitis
Symptoms begin to make themselves felt a few hours after contact with a large amount of allergen. At the same time, the patient has a headache, fever is observed, body temperature rises. Also, a person may experience breathing problems, in some cases a small amount of sputum is secreted and pulmonary wheezing can be heard.
After a few days (usually 2-3 days), these signs of allergic lung alveolitis pass on their own. But at the same time, with fairly prolonged contact with the allergen, the acute form of the disease goes into the chronic stage, which causes a lot of discomfort to the person.
Chronic stage
Chronic alveolitis develops due to the constant exposure to an allergen, and in large quantities. This is often accompanied by a decrease in appetite against the background of constant shortness of breath in the presence of a wet cough. This form of the pathological condition is characterized by a progressive character. As a result, pulmonary hypertension or heart failure may occur.
As a rule, after ten years the patient may be diagnosed with pulmonary emphysema or chronic bronchitis.
Varieties of Alveolitis
Due to the fact that the professional activity of some people is associated with constant contact with certain allergens, many types of ailment have a name depending on the type of this activity. Given this, several types of such allergic alveolitis can be distinguished:
- Bagassosis The source is moldy overheated sugarcane.
- Suberosis. Here, the cork tree bark acts as a pathogen.
- Syndrome "Farmer's lung." It is caused due to contact with fine hay, which contains thermophilic actinomycetes.
- Malt lung syndrome. Caused by constant exposure to barley dust.
- "Disease of cheese makers." Here, antigens are some varieties of cheese beloved by many people.
- Syndrome "Lung of mushroom pickers." Often this condition is common among those people whose activities are associated with the cultivation of mushrooms.
Also, the development of alveolitis can contribute to the constant and too frequent use of an air conditioner, humidifier or heater. There are also such syndromes that are associated with the production of household chemicals, medicines and harmful substances.
Currently, about 350 types of allergens are known in total, which lead to the appearance of symptoms of allergic alveolitis. These include:
- microorganisms (spores, fungi),
- biologically active substances (enzymes, proteins),
- heavy metals.
What could be the reason
As it is now clear, the cause of alveolitis lies in the interaction of various allergens. Even the smallest particle in the immune system can cause a violent reaction. At the same time, environmental pollution plays an important role.
Those people whose professional activities are related to production (including agriculture) are more susceptible to this disease. And according to experts, there is a close relationship of alveolitis with environmental and domestic conditions. This aspect is poor in many areas.
Adults suffer from allergic manifestations due to work in hazardous work. Where, if not here, is a person forced to inhale a huge amount of dust particles and other dangerous allergens? In children, allergic alveolitis usually develops due to bronchial asthma.
Diagnosis of ailment
Due to the fact that the symptoms of alveolitis are similar to other diseases, it is quite difficult to establish an accurate diagnosis. At the same time, there is nothing impossible yet and for this the whole procedure for detecting an ailment can be divided into several stages:
- The doctor examines the patient’s clinical picture, taking into account his place of work. A physical examination is carried out, complaints are studied, a complete history of the patient is compiled.
- Biological material is being collected for further research (urine, sputum, blood).
- The patient’s breathing is examined. During this procedure, the doctor will be able to assess the general condition of the lungs and whether rales are present, which is characteristic of alveolitis.
- A chest x-ray is taken.
- If the case is severe, a biopsy may be required.
Note: in every first of 10 patients who have been diagnosed with fibrous allergic alveolitis, lung cancer is detected. If you seek medical help in a timely manner and begin an appropriate course of treatment, then the further prognosis is favorable.
Do not ignore the presence of such an ailment in acute or chronic form, as well as self-medicate. Otherwise, it can be fatal.
Therapeutic therapy
As in the case of any other disease of allergic origin, an effective method of treatment is the complete elimination of contact with an allergen that causes a negative reaction from the body's immunity. Sometimes, when such a simple and effective recommendation is followed, an ailment resolves on its own, without the use of any means or medications.
Based on the specific type of allergen, the methods for treating allergic alveolitis are different in each case. In some cases, healthcare providers recommend that patients change jobs to avoid prolonged exposure to harmful particles on the body. The same goes for pets. If they lead to the development of allergic reactions, then do not start them.
Household dust also causes great harm to the body and therefore it is necessary to regularly carry out wet cleaning. Special air purifiers also come in handy.
Those who work in agriculture suffer the most from the Farmer’s lung syndrome. To reduce all possible risks, it is necessary to automate the most time-consuming stages of work, especially in those cases where professional activity is associated with increased formation of dust particles.
In addition to the need to change working conditions for workers in a particularly hazardous production, the treatment of exogenous allergic alveolitis is usually also associated with the need to observe basic safety rules. In this case, we are talking about various respiratory protective equipment. Equipping workers with dust masks can significantly reduce the risk of developing alveolitis.
It is also important to remember that preventive measures should primarily provide for the reduction of air pollution from industrial waste.
Drug treatment
The acute form of the disease is treated with corticosteroid drugs, which contribute to the restoration of impaired functions. The course is based on various kinds of glucocorticoids, which include prednisolone. It is necessary to take these funds for 1-2 weeks at 60 mg once a day. Then the dosage is reduced to 20 mg for the next 2-4 weeks. After this, the dosage of the drug should be gradually reduced by 2.5 mg per week until the drug is completely discontinued.
Hormone therapy in this case does not give the desired effect, so its use is a big question.
Children's alveolitis
In children, the development of the disease also provokes regular exposure to the body of various allergens. In most cases, this factor is pet hair, poor environmental conditions in the area of ​​residence, or contact with toxic chemicals.
For the treatment of allergic illness in children, prednisolone is also prescribed for a long time (up to 1 month). To facilitate the breathing process, special gymnastics or exercise therapy is used.
The difficulty in treating exogenous allergic alveolitis in children is complicated by the fact that the body's immune system has not yet been strengthened. It should be borne in mind that the sooner a child is diagnosed with an allergic pathology, the lower the risk of various deviations in relation to physical, mental and mental development.
Further forecast
If you start timely treatment of alveolitis, then the prognosis in this case is favorable for patients. At the same time, a negligent attitude to one’s own health and in the absence of proper treatment leads to the development of serious complications, up to the oncological process and death.
But she should panic when diagnosed with an allergic alveolitis. With the timely detection of the disease and the fulfillment of all the doctor's instructions, the pathological condition is reversible. In this case, the acute form can pass on its own, as soon as the effect of antigen is eliminated. This usually takes several hours.
As for the chronic stage of the disease, here it is already irreversible. However, if you stop contact with the allergen, the general condition stabilizes.
Preventive measures
There is no specific prophylaxis, since there is no way to predict which allergen the body’s immune system will react violently. Therefore, as an effective recommendation - to lead a healthy lifestyle and abandon bad habits. As regards the latter, at least they should be minimized.
A useful clinical recommendation for allergic alveolitis is to temper the body, which will only benefit it. Thus, this will increase the strength of the immune system to resist the harmful effects of external factors.
If the disease can be caused by drug allergens, it is necessary to more carefully choose medications, which is usually the responsibility of doctors , taking into account the patient's history. Patients are not recommended to take several drugs, unless this is necessary.
With regard to exogenous allergic alveolitis, clinical recommendations also apply to the place of work - it is necessary to carry out hygienic and clinical and epidemiological measures in plants with harmful working conditions.