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- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
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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 Medical Encyclopedia
- Bronchoscopy Medical Encyclopedia
- Byssinosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Chest x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
- Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Histiocytosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Industrial bronchitis Medical Encyclopedia
- Rheumatoid pneumoconiosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Silicosis Medical Encyclopedia
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 and Take Off a Disposable Respirator Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Particulate Matter (PM) Pollution Environmental Protection Agency
- What Is Crystalline Silica? Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Children
- Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Anthracosis National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Lung Diseases, Interstitial National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Pneumoconiosis National Institutes of Health
Specifics
- 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.
- 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
Reference Desk
- How the Lungs Work National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Patient Handouts
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis Medical Encyclopedia
- Interstitial lung disease Medical Encyclopedia
- Interstitial lung disease – adults – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
- Pulmonary function tests Medical Encyclopedia
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
- What Are Interstitial Lung Diseases? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Treatments and Therapies
- Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Treatment National Jewish Health
- Lung Disease Treatments National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Diagnosis and Tests
- Lung Function Tests National Library of Medicine
- Shortness of Breath American Academy of Family Physicians
- Tests for Lung Disease National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Living With
- Oxygen Therapy: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Protect Yourself: Respirators Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Signs of Potential Problems in the Workplace American Lung Association
Journal Articles
Genetics
- Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Surfactant dysfunction: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine