Interstitial Lung Disease

A group of disorders that cause scarring and inflammation of the lung tissue, leading to difficulty breathing and reduced lung function.

What is interstitial lung disease (ILD) and what does it affect?

"Interstitial lung disease (ILD), or diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD), is a group of respiratory diseases affecting the interstitium (the tissue) and space around the alveoli (air sacs) of the lungs."

What is the cause of interstitial lung disease?

"It may occur when an injury to the lungs triggers an abnormal healing response."

How does interstitial lung disease affect the lungs?

"...the repair process is disrupted, and the tissue around the air sacs (alveoli) becomes scarred and thickened. This makes it more difficult for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream."

What are some common symptoms of interstitial lung disease?

"The disease presents itself with the following symptoms: shortness of breath, nonproductive coughing, fatigue, and weight loss."

How long does it take for symptoms to develop in interstitial lung disease?

"...symptoms tend to develop slowly, over several months."

What is the average survival rate for someone with interstitial lung disease?

"The average rate of survival for someone with this disease is between three and five years."

What is the purpose of using the term ILD?

"The term ILD is used to distinguish these diseases from obstructive airways diseases."

Are there specific types of interstitial lung disease that affect children?

"There are specific types in children, known as children's interstitial lung diseases."

What does the acronym ChILD stand for?

"The acronym ChILD is sometimes used for this group of diseases."

Can prolonged ILD lead to pulmonary fibrosis?

"Prolonged ILD may result in pulmonary fibrosis, but this is not always the case."

What is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

"Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is interstitial lung disease for which no obvious cause can be identified..."

What are the characteristic findings of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

"...associated with typical findings both radiographic (basal and pleural-based fibrosis with honeycombing) and pathologic (temporally and spatially heterogeneous fibrosis, histopathologic honeycombing, and fibroblastic foci)."

How many people were affected by interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis in 2015?

"In 2015, interstitial lung disease, together with pulmonary sarcoidosis, affected 1.9 million people."

How many deaths were caused by interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis in 2015?

"They resulted in 122,000 deaths."

What specific tissues does interstitial lung disease affect?

"It concerns alveolar epithelium, pulmonary capillary endothelium, basement membrane, and perivascular and perilymphatic tissues."

What triggers the abnormal healing response in interstitial lung disease?

"An injury to the lungs triggers an abnormal healing response."

How does scarring and thickening of the tissue affect the alveoli?

"The tissue around the air sacs (alveoli) becomes scarred and thickened. This makes it more difficult for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream."

How do the symptoms of interstitial lung disease develop?

"Symptoms tend to develop slowly, over several months."

What is the term used to differentiate interstitial lung disease from obstructive airways diseases?

"The term ILD is used to distinguish these diseases from obstructive airways diseases."

What is the survival range for individuals with interstitial lung disease?

"The average rate of survival for someone with this disease is between three and five years."