chronic extrinsic allergic alveolitis
Last reviewed 01/2018
Slowly progressive picture of:
- cough, productive of small volumes of mucoid sputum
- malaise
- weight loss
- dyspnoea
- exertional dyspnoea
On examination there may be fine crepitations; typically, there are no wheezes.
If pulmonary fibrosis has developed, the patient may be clubbed. It should be noted that clubbing is an uncommon feature in extrinsic allergic alveolitis but common in cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis.
A patient with advanced disease may be cyanosed. In the terminal stages cor pulmonale develops.