Interstitial Lung Disease

Interstitial Lung Disease

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What is interstitial lung disease (ILD)?

  • It refers to a broad group of diseases that can damage tissue within the lungs, particularly the lining of the lung’s air sacs (alveoli).
It affects the functional tissue of the lungs in many different ways, so they have:
  • Different causes
  • Different treatments
  • Different outcomes
Patients with ILD have progressive inflammation and/or scarring (fibrosis) of the interstitium. Leading to inflammation and scarring, eventually limiting the lungs’ ability to expand and adequately absorb oxygen.

The most common symptoms for ILD

Initially, the patient starts having shortness of breath with aerobic activity (such as exercise, walking, or climbing stairs), then this symptom begins to develop with SIMPLE DAILY ACTIVITIES or even AT REST.


  Also, these following symptoms may occur:
  • Dry cough
  • General feelings of fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Malaise
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SleepDisordered-Diagnosis

What are the steps needed for the full diagnosis of ILD?

1. Physical exam

2. Blood tests

3. Chest x-ray

4. Chest CT scan

5. Lung function testing

How do WE treat Asthma

Asthma can’t be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. Because asthma often changes over time, it’s important that you work with your doctor to track your signs and symptoms and adjust treatment as needed.

Breathing exercises

These exercises can help you get more air into and out of your lungs. Over time, this may help inthcrease lung capacity and cut down on severe asthma symptoms. Your doctor or an occupational therapist can help you learn these breathing exercises for asthma.

Rescue or first aid treatments

These medications should only be used in the event of an asthma attack. They provide quick relief to help you breathe again. Examples include:


  • Rescue inhalers and Nebulizers, which are used with medicine that needs to be inhaled deep into the lungs
  • Bronchodilators, which work to relax the tightened muscles in your lung
  • Anti-inflammatories, which target inflammation in your lungs that could be preventing your breathing

If you think that someone you know is having an asthma attack, you should sit them upright and assist them in using their rescue inhaler or nebulizer. Two to six puffs of medication should help ease their symptoms.


If symptoms persist for more than 20 minutes, and a second round of medication doesn’t help, seek medical attention.

Long-term asthma control mediations

These medications should be taken daily to prevent symptoms. Some rescue treatments, such as inhalers and nebulizers, can be used daily. However, your doctor will need to adjust your dosages.


Several types of medications are used to treat asthma

LUNG BIOPSY

What if these diagnostic techniques cannot be performed?

The alternative diagnosis technique would be:
A LUNG BIOPSY is often necessary.

A biopsy is a procedure performed to remove tissue or cells from the body for examination under a microscope and can be performed through 2 techniques:

1. Bronchoscopy which is a same-day procedure using a flexible tube inserted from the nose.

2. Surgical Biopsy

YES, it could be treated in various effective ways depending on the severity of the disease.

  • ILD Severity
    • Severe
      • Lung transplant
      • Oxygen therapy
    • Mild
      • Clinical observation

Other ways of treatment include:

  • Medications
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Addressing environmental causes

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