ILD Clinic - shaivamworld

ILD-Interstitial Lung Disease

What is ILD?

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an umbrella term used for a large group of diseases that cause Inflammation (swelling) & scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs. The inflammation causes you to have low grade fever, cough and feeling of ill health associated with tiredness. Those with diabetes can have fluctuations in sugar. The scarring causes stiffness in the lungs which makes it difficult to breathe, perform regular activity which was ones’ routine and limitation ones’ functional activity. Both can lead to overall poor quality of active daily living. Lung damage from most of the ILDs’ is often irreversible if not detected on time and gets worse over time.

Cause and risk factor:

Following things can increase the risk of you getting the ILD

Genetics
Certain medications such as Amiodarone, Drugs for cancer & Radiation therapy.
Exposure to hazardous materials like asbestos and stone cutting, grinding factory.
People with Autoimmune diseases such as SLE, Sarcoidosis, Sjogren’s, Mixed Connective disorder or Rheumatoid arthritis
Smokings increases the chances of your development of ILD to a significant extent.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a common ILD where exact cause is unknown

Signs and Symptoms:

The most common symptom of all ILDs is shortness of breath. The symptoms keep increasing with time and duration affecting the quality of life.
This is often accompanied by a
- Dry cough
- Chest discomfort
- Fatigue
- Weight loss.
- Seasonal worsening of all symptoms
In initial phase, disease goes undetected without any warning signs. By the time you have symptoms you can have moderately advanced disease. So ask your family Doctor to get your Lung function done frequently if you are on Chemotherapy/ radiotherapy for cancer, have arthrites, work in high risk dusty area, continue smoking and need cardiac medicines which can affect lung function.
If untreated, this can worsen and cause Respiratory and Heart Failure. You might be asked by your Doctor to start home oxygen therapy.

Diagnosis:

If you work in a high risk area, have any of the risk factors it is important to get the following tests which will give you a clue to presence or absence of Interstitial Lung Disease.

Treatment:

Depending on the type of ILD diagnosed and the severity of lung function treatment will be customized.

Lung damage from ILDs is often irreversible and progressive, so treatment normally centers on relieving symptoms, improving quality of life and slowing the disease’s progression.

Medications
- Steroids and Immunosuppresions are the hallmark of treatment after consulting your Chest Specialist. They are started after confirming the Disease severity and inflammation
- Antifibrotics: They are the Hallmark of treatment in the later stage of disease when scarring (Fibrosis) is more than swelling.
Oxygen therapy
It is considered in patients with confirmed deficit of oxygen on Lung testing. Oxygen is also given to patient with advanced fibrosis, symptoms on more than routine work or those with heart failure.
Pulmonary rehabilitation is the hallmark of all ILDs irrespective of cause or stage of disease. It is also recommended to improve daily life by giving patients techniques to improve lung efficiency, improve physical endurance and offer emotional support.
Lung Transplantation: It is now possible in India to undergo a Lung transplant at Reputed Centers. Patients with Fibrosis and advanced disease with poor quality of life are candidates for Lung transplant.

For more details about your ILD related cause, staging, diagnosis and treatment you can visit us at SHAIVAM.