A case of hypersensitity pneumonitis due to the contamination of a dehumidifier by Thermoactinomyces vulgaris

A 22-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of high fever and shortness of breath. A chest CT showed centrilobular nodules and ground-glass attenuation in both lungs. Transbronchial lung biopsy specimens showed alveolitis including the infiltration of mononuclear cells and granulomas. He...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inNihon Kokyūki Gakkai zasshi = the journal of the Japanese Respiratory Society Vol. 46; no. 1; p. 39
Main Authors Otsuka, Mitsuo, Akiyama, Takayosi, Saikai, Toyohiro, Tanaka, Yasumasa, Saizen, Hitoki, Murakami, Seiji, Yamada, Gen, Tanaka, Hirosi, Takahashi, Hiroki
Format Journal Article
LanguageJapanese
Published Japan 01.01.2008
Subjects
Adult
Air Pollution, Indoor
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic - etiology
Housing
Humans
Humidity
Male
Micromonosporaceae - immunology
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:A 22-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of high fever and shortness of breath. A chest CT showed centrilobular nodules and ground-glass attenuation in both lungs. Transbronchial lung biopsy specimens showed alveolitis including the infiltration of mononuclear cells and granulomas. He responded to treatment, but upon returning home the radiological findings and clinical symptoms reappeared. We focused on a dehumidifier because it had been used continuously in his room. Thermoactinomyces vulgaris presented in the air filter of the dehumidifier. The test of precipitation in response to Thermoactinomyces vulgaris was positive. The condition inside the dehumidifier of a high temperature and high humidity were suitable for the proliferation of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris. We diagnosed hypersensitity pneumonitis due to a dehumidifier contaminated by Thermoactinomyces vulgaris.
ISSN:1343-3490