title: Familial summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis in Japan: two case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is defined as an allergic lung disease that occurs in response to inhalation of fungal antigens, bacterial antigens, chemicals, dusts, or animal proteins. The incidence of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis is higher in the summer season, especially in Japan, due to the influence of the hot and humid environment and the common style of wood house or old concrete condominiums.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present report describes a case of a middle-aged married couple who lived in the same house and who simultaneously suffered from summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This report analyzes these two cases in terms of environmental research and its microbiological, radiological, and pathological aspects. This case report is followed by a review of family occurrences of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis from 22 studies with a total of 49 patients (including the two present cases) in Japan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis may be unrecognized and misdiagnosed as pneumonia or other respiratory diseases. A greater understanding of the clinical, pathologic, and environmental features of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis might help improve diagnosis and delivery of appropriate management for this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, 181-8611, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan. sara@yd5.so-net.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saraya
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: Takayasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Masachika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takizawa
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012621:Seasons; D014250:Trichosporon / Q000502:physiology
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