Pneumonitis

Pneumonitis (noo-MOHN-eye-tus) is general inflammation in your lungs that can affect how well you breathe and cause other bodily symptoms. It occurs when a foreign substance (irritant) inflames the small air sacs in your lungs (alveoli).

There are different types of pneumonitis inflammation. They include:

• Acute. Inflammation develops suddenly and only lasts a little while.
• Subacute. Inflammation progresses gradually and steadily.
• Chronic. Inflammation unfolds over a long period and becomes ongoing.

Is pneumonitis serious?

Yes, pneumonitis is serious. Long-term exposure to irritants that cause pneumonitis may cause permanent lung damage.

What are the types of pneumonitis?

There are different types of pneumonitis according to their cause. These include:

• Acute interstitial pneumonitis. Acute interstitial pneumonitis develops suddenly, and your symptoms quickly get worse. Healthcare providers aren’t sure what causes it.
• Chemical pneumonitis. Chemical pneumonitis develops after inhaling chemicals that appear in household or workplace products (inhalants), such as chemicals in imaging tests, chlorine gas, pesticides, gasoline and smoke.
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a type of allergy that develops when you breathe in (inhale) antigens, including bacteria, dust, molds or tiny scales from animal skin, hair or feathers (dander).
• Radiation pneumonitis. Radiation pneumonitis may occur after radiation therapy to treat cancer.