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To diagnose hypersensitivity pneumonitis, your doctor will collect your medical history, assess exposure history to possible causative substances, perform a physical exam, and possibly order diagnostic tests and procedures such as: blood tests, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), computed tomography (CT), inhalation challenge tests, lung biopsies, lung function tests, precipitin tests, or chest x-rays.

Signs and symptoms vary between acute, subacute, and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and may include flu-like illness including fever, chills, muscle or joint pain, or headaches; rales; cough; chronic bronchitis; shortness of breath; anorexia or weight loss; fatigue; fibrosis of the lungs; or clubbing of fingers or toes. Complications of chronic disease may include irreversible lung damage, permanently reduced lung function, pulmonary hypotension, or heart failure.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is caused by repeated exposure to environmental substances that cause inflammation in the lungs when inhaled. Substances include: bacteria, fungi or molds, proteins, or chemicals.

How to Apply - Application Guide

A listing of all forms, formats and instructions grouped by their use. A good option for those experienced with NIH grants.

If you are the recipient of a grant from the NIH, there is a great deal of information that your organization will need in order to be successful stewards of federal funds. The NIH Welcome Wagon Letter provides information and resources for new recipient organizations on how to manage the award. The information provided below is a brief overview of selected monitoring and reporting requirements.

When NIH awards a grant, we are formalizing our partnership with the grantee to ensure compliance with federal laws, regulations and policies. This protects the integrity of the overall scientific endeavor. This page describes what happens between peer review through award for applicants whose applications have been deemed highly meritorious in the scientific peer review process.

Peer review meeting in progress (Photo courtesy of Center for Scientific Review).