Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia presenting with high grade fever: a case report

Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), one subtype of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias is an autoimmune disease presenting usually at a younger age, most commonly in women. It can be distinguished clinically and pathologically from other subgroups of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. Many cases of this entity occur in the context of an underlying disorder, such as a connective tissue disease, drug induced interstitial lung disease, or chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Symptoms are non-specific and include insidious onset of dyspnoea and dry cough with restrictive pattern of decreased lung function and reduced gas exchange capacity. Fever or a flu-like syndrome can occur in up to one third of patients with NSIP. We report a case of 50 years old female who presented with breathlessness, cough and high grade fever. She did not have any features suggestive of connective tissue disease. On computed tomography of chest, diagnosis of NSIP was made and she responded to steroids.