Interstitial Lung Diseases 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. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Encyclopedia ACE blood test Asbestosis Bronchoscopy Byssinosis Caplan syndrome Chest x-ray Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis Histiocytosis Industrial bronchitis Silicosis Find an Expert American Lung Association American Lung Association Lung HelpLine and Tobacco QuitLine American Lung Association National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Related Issues Beryllium Toxicity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dusts and Molds National Farm Medicine Center How to Properly Put On, Take Off a Disposable Respirator Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Particulate Matter Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards What Is Crystalline Silica? Occupational Safety and Health Administration Diagnosis and Tests Chest CT Scan National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Pulmonary Function Tests American Thoracic Society Shortness of Breath American Academy of Family Physicians What Are Lung Function Tests? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute What Is a Chest X Ray? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute What Is Chest MRI? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Children Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Living with Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Types of Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 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 Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Lung Diseases, Interstitial National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Pneumoconiosis National Institutes of Health Genetics Genetics Home Reference: Langerhans cell histiocytosis National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: surfactant dysfunction National Library of Medicine Prevention and Risk Factors Healthy Air: Signs of Potential Problems in the Workplace American Lung Association Protect Yourself: Respirators Occupational Safety and Health Administration Treatments and Therapies How Is Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease Treated? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute How Is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Treated? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Treatment National Jewish Health Array Hypersensitivity pneumonitis Interstitial lung disease Interstitial lung disease – adults – discharge Pulmonary function tests Start Here Interstitial Lung Disease National Jewish Health Interstitial Lung Disease Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Occupational Respiratory Disease American Academy of Family Physicians Living With MedlinePlus: Oxygen Therapy National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus: Pulmonary Rehabilitation National Library of Medicine Journal Articles Interstitial Lung Diseases Reference Desk What Are the Lungs? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
