Jaipur, Apr 12 (PTI) A Jaipur-based pulmonologist has claimed to have developed a new tool to diagnose Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP), a serious lung condition that can lead to fibrosis.
The tool, called HP-SAQE (South Asian Questionnaire for Environmental exposure), has shown over 90 per cent accuracy and has been published in Thorax, an international journal on respiratory diseases.
HP is a major cause of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), which leads to scarring of the lungs. The disease is common in South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, and is often difficult to diagnose, Dr Sheetu Singh said.
She said that the HP-SAQE works through a questionnaire that checks a patient’s exposure to environmental factors such as birds, dust, and damp conditions. A score of nine or above indicates a high chance of HP.
“The tool can help in early and accurate diagnosis, which is important as symptoms like cough and breathlessness are often confused with other diseases,” she said.
Singh said the tool was designed to address region-specific environmental conditions and simplify diagnosis in complex lung diseases. The research was based on clinical data from patients across multiple South Asian countries, ensuring its wider applicability.
Symptoms of HP include persistent cough, breathlessness, fatigue and weight loss, which often resemble other respiratory illnesses, making early detection difficult. PTI SDA SHS SHS
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