Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a slaughterhouse worker: A case report

Abstract

This case report describes a 60-year-old male, who presented to the Respiratory Outpatient Unit due to dyspnea on exertion and persistent dry cough, worsened during the preceding 6 months. He was nonsmoker with an otherwise unremarkable medical history and had been working in a sheep/goat slaughterhouse for the last 25 years. He recalled a number of episodes of flu-like symptoms in the past that subsided without any specific treatment. Given the compatible occupational history, the radiologic pattern in chest High-Resolution Computed Tomography and the Bronchoalveolar Lavage subpopulation analysis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis was diagnosed, and the patient was advised to leave temporarily his current occupational activity. Four weeks later, clinical and functional improvement was observed. A permanent job change was subsequently suggested, and sustained improvement was confirmed during his follow-up at 3 months.

Keywords:

• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• occupational disease
• occupational exposure
• occupational respiratory disease
• slaughterhouse worker

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest, and the work was not supported or funded by any drug company.

Ethical statement

This work received no funds.