Interstitial Lung Diseases (original) (raw)

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• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
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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.

Start Here

• Interstitial Lung Disease (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

• Interstitial Lung Disease: Overview (National Jewish Health)

• Occupational Respiratory Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

• What Are Interstitial Lung Diseases? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

• Protect Yourself: Respirators (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - PDF

• Signs of Unhealthy Indoor Air (American Lung Association)

• Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Treatment (National Jewish Health)

• Lung Disease Treatments (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

• Beryllium (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Crystalline Silica (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

• Dusts and Molds (National Farm Medicine Center) - PDF

• How to Properly Put On and Take Off a Disposable Respirator (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish

• Particulate Matter (PM) Pollution (Environmental Protection Agency)

• About Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (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.) Also in Spanish

• Learn about Silicosis (American Lung Association)

• Pneumonitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

• Silicosis: Learn the Facts! (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) - PDF Also in Spanish

• How the Lungs Work (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

• Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)