Interstitial lung disease is a general category that includes many different lung conditions. All interstitial lung diseases affect the interstitium, a part of the lungs anatomic structure.
Interstitial lung disease can vary from person to person and depending on what caused it. Sometimes it progresses slowly. In other cases, it worsens quickly. Your symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Symptoms of ILD:
The primary signs and symptoms of interstitial lung disease are:
- Shortness of breath at rest or aggravated by exertion
- Dry cough
Types of ILD:
- Interstitial pneumonia
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis
- Desquamative interstitial pneumonitis
- Acute interstitial pneumonitis
- Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP)
