CONDITIONS
Pulmonology
Interstitial lung disease
Interstitial lung disease refers to a wide range of conditions that affect the interstitium of the lungs. These diseases cause scarring on the lung tissue, which can impact your ability to breath and eventually lead to permanent damage. Interstitial lung diseases include interstitial pneumonia, sarcoidosis and asbestosis, among others. These complications can arise from viruses, bacterial lung infections, inflammation, scarring and swelling of the lymph nodes in the interstitium. If left untreated, interstitial lung disease can cause irreversible damage to the lungs, and a lung transplant may be needed. The disease can also lead to heart failure, lung failure and pulmonary hypertension.
What causes interstitial lung disease?
Interstitial lung disease is caused by exposure to substances like asbestos or other harmful particles like dust and radiation. Additionally, the condition can be caused by certain heart and cancer medications as well as antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Smoking tobacco can also contribute to interstitial lung disease, but in some cases, a direct cause is unknown.
What are the related symptoms?
Symptoms of interstitial lung disease present themselves when permanent damage has already begun to set in. These symptoms include shortness of breath and a dry cough. If you have interstitial lung disease, you may also experience fatigue after physical exertion and weight loss too.
How is interstitial lung disease diagnosed?
Interstitial lung disease can be easily misdiagnosed because symptoms may be mistaken for other health complications. Your physician, however, can confirm the condition through a series of tests. Blood tests, scans, x-rays, tissue samples and lung function tests are needed to determine the cause of your symptoms and identify interstitial lung disease. These tests will determine how your lungs inhale and exhale air, the content of oxygen in your blood and the amount of damage present in your lungs.
How is interstitial lung disease treated?
Interstitial lung disease is not curable, and scarring or swelling in the lungs may not be stopped with medication. Treatment, however, can slow the spread of the condition and improve your quality of life. Treatment for interstitial lung disease includes medications, along with breathing and oxygen therapy. In severe cases, a lung transplant may be performed to replace a damaged lung.
