Pediatric Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Guidelines

Updated: Jan 28, 2022
  • Author: Naga Jaya Smitha Yenduri, MD; Chief Editor: Girish D Sharma, MD, FCCP, FAAP  more...
  • Print
Guidelines

Guidelines Summary

The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) published clinical guidelines on the diagnosis and evaluation of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. [81] The guidelines note that the disease can occur at any age.

The ACCP suggests classifying patients with suspected hypersensitivity pneumonitis based on the likelihood of inciting antigen exposure.

The ACCP suggests classifying the disease as fibrotic or nonfibrotic based on the presence or absence of fibrosis on high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning of the chest.

The ACCP suggests bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis may not be needed in patients with a compelling exposure history within the appropriate clinical context and a pattern typical of hypersensitivity pneumonitis on high-resolution CT scanning of the chest.

The ACCP suggests that histologic lung biopsy may be considered when clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings (along with bronchoscopic results) do not yield a confident diagnosis, and the results may help guide management.