Bird fancier's lung is a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) that can develop acute exacerbations — episodes of worsening marked by new or increased mosaic attenuation and air trapping on high-resolution CT (HRCT), accompanied by clinically significant respiratory compromise.
Acute exacerbations in hypersensitivity pneumonitis may relate to continuous or intense antigen exposure. They are identified by characteristic HRCT findings — increased or new mosaic attenuation and air trapping — together with varying degrees of respiratory compromise. This is the target population for the protocol below.
The cornerstone of management is antigen removal alongside corticosteroid therapy. Where a concurrent bacterial infection is suspected or confirmed, an additional antimicrobial component is incorporated. The complete structured regimen — including sequencing, decision thresholds, and further considerations — is available in the full protocol.