How do you Diagnose Pneumonitis?
The doctor will take a detailed history including occupational history, medications and perform a physical examination with listening to breath sounds in the lungs with a stethoscope. If there is a clinical suspicion of pneumonitis, further tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis
- Compete blood count and erythrocytic sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP) to exclude infection or underlying chronic inflammatory condition
- Blood gas analysis will demonstrate low oxygen tension in blood and tissues
- Sputum examination and culture
- Serum testing for presence of antibodies to specific allergens in hypersensitivity pneumonitis and occurrence of autoantibodies in autoimmune diseases
- Chest x-ray may show characteristic changes
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- Computerized tomography (CT scan) provides detailed cross sectional images from several angles. You will be made to lie on a narrow table that slides into a large, doughnut-shaped machine. CT scans typically give much more information of changes in the lung than a chest x-ray and take 15-20 minutes to complete
- Lung function tests (spirometry) - The instrument used to perform the test is called a spirometer. The amount of air you can inhale or exhale in a specified time will be measured. Capacity of the lungs to transfer inhaled gases into the blood can also be measured
- Bronchoscopy - A flexible tube is inserted into the airways and maneuvered to visualize the air passages. A saline wash may be performed to collect material for analysis. If possible a small sample of lung tissue will also be taken for microscopic examination
- Lung biopsy - In certain cases, a sample of lung tissue may have to be obtained to confirm the diagnosis
