In the submitted review the authors give an account of contemporary knowledge of exogenous allergic alveolitis. The disease is a complex dynamic clinical syndrome which changes as to its basic manifestations and the subsequent course of the disease. It belongs into the group of immunologically conditioned diseases with a non-uniform etiopathogenetic agent, difficult diagnosis and necessary synthesis of laboratory, immunological, cytological results, pretentious imaging and bronchological intervention methods, a difficult differential diagnosis and in some cases also a very serious prognosis and so far not quite ideal therapeutic possibilities. The authors emphasize the importance of preventive provisions.

        Key words: extrinsic allergic alveolitis, pathogenesis of the disease, clinical picture, diagnosis, treatment