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Summary
Interstitial lung disease is the name for a large group of diseases that inflame or scar the lungs. The inflammation and scarring make it hard to get enough oxygen. The scarring is called pulmonary fibrosis.
Breathing in dust or other particles in the air is responsible for some types of interstitial lung diseases. Specific types include
- Black lung disease among coal miners, from inhaling coal dust
- Farmer's lung, from inhaling farm dust
- Asbestosis, from inhaling asbestos fibers
- Siderosis, from inhaling iron from mines or welding fumes
- Silicosis, from inhaling silica dust
Other causes include autoimmune diseases or occupational exposures to molds, gases, or fumes. Some types of interstitial lung disease have no known cause.
Treatment depends on the type of exposure and the stage of the disease. It may involve medicines, oxygen therapy, or a lung transplant in severe cases.
Diagnosis and Tests
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Chest CT Scan
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Pulmonary Function Tests (American Thoracic Society) - PDF
- Shortness of Breath (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
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What Are Lung Function Tests? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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What Is a Chest X Ray? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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What Is Chest MRI? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Healthy Air: Signs of Potential Problems in the Workplace (American Lung Association)
- Protect Yourself: Respirators (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - PDF
Treatments and Therapies
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How Is Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease Treated? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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How Is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Treated? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Treatment (National Jewish Health)
Living With
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MedlinePlus: Oxygen Therapy (National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
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MedlinePlus: Pulmonary Rehabilitation (National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- Beryllium Toxicity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Dusts and Molds (National Farm Medicine Center) - PDF
- How to Properly Put On, Take Off a Disposable Respirator (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Particulate Matter (PM) Pollution (Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards)
- What Is Crystalline Silica? (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - PDF
Specifics
- Chronic Beryllium Disease (National Jewish Health)
- Coal Mining-Related Respiratory Diseases (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
- Farmer's Lung: Causes and Symptoms of Mold and Dust Induced Respiratory Illness (Virginia Cooperative Extension)
-
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias (Merck & Co., Inc.)
- Learn About Silicosis (American Lung Association)
- Pneumonitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Silicosis: Learn the Facts! (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) - PDF Also in Spanish
Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: surfactant dysfunction (National Library of Medicine)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Lung Diseases, Interstitial (National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Pneumoconiosis (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
-
What Are the Lungs? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Find an Expert
- American Lung Association
- Lung HelpLine and Tobacco QuitLine (American Lung Association)
-
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Children
-
Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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Living with Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
-
Types of Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Patient Handouts
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis Also in Spanish
- Interstitial lung disease Also in Spanish
- Interstitial lung disease - adults - discharge Also in Spanish
- Pulmonary function tests Also in Spanish
