Burden of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis at a Single Respiratory Centre of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) or extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) is a diffuse parenchymal lung disease due to an inflammation of air spaces and airways secondary to an exposure to organic dust, bioaerosols, microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, protozoa) or certain reactive chemical species. Previous studies done in Sri Lanka recognized that it accounts for about one forth of ILD cases in total. Though the previous studied done in Sri Lanka looked into ILD patients in overall, no single study has looked into the hypersensitivity pneumonitis in details to identify its characteristics and impact on the community. This study was aimed at filling that gap.