Hypersensitivity pneumonitis from ordinary residential exposures

A previously healthy woman developed hypersensitivity pneumonitis of such s everity that she required chronic systemic corticosteroid therapy for sympt om control. Detailed investigation of her workplace and home environments r evealed fungi in her typical suburban home, to which she had specific serum precipitating antibodies. Efforts to remove mold from the home were unsucc essful in relieving symptoms, and moving to another residence was the only intervention that allowed her to be withdrawn from corticosteroid therapy, Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is commonly associated with occupational or av ocational exposures, such as moldy hay in farmers or bird antigen in bird b reeders. We propose that hypersensitivity pneumonitis may occur in North Am erica, as it does in Japan, from domestic exposures alone.