Interstitial Lung Disease

Interstitial lung disease, also called diffuse parenchymal lung disease, is a group of respiratory diseases affecting the interstitium and the space around the alveoli of the lungs. It may occur when an injury to the lungs triggers an abnormal healing response: ordinarily the body generates just enough tissue to repair damage, but in interstitial lung disease the repair process is disrupted and the tissue around the air sacs becomes scarred and thickened, making it harder for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream. Symptoms, including shortness of breath, nonproductive coughing, fatigue, and weight loss, tend to develop slowly over several months; while many forms are progressive and serious, some types remain mild or stable for extended periods, especially with early detection and treatment, and average survival is between three and five years.