Interstitial Lung Disease

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Interstitial lung disease, also called diffuse lung disease, is a group of rare lung disorders that can range from mild to life-threatening. These disorders can affect how much oxygen can get to the body, and many can cause inflammation and/or scarring of lung tissue. The pediatric pulmonologists with Norton Children’s Pulmonology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, have the training and expertise to care for childhood interstitial lung disease (chILD).

What Is Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease?

There are many forms of chILD. Some are genetic and can be inherited, while others may develop due to an illness or injury to the lungs. The disorders usually cause symptoms such as:

  • Scarring in the lungs (fibrosis)
  • Decreased oxygen levels
  • Abnormal breathing patterns, such as fast or labored breathing

Many conditions can cause symptoms similar to interstitial lung disease. Our pediatric pulmonologists have extensive experience in diagnosing these conditions and treating accordingly.

Interstitial Lung Diseases We Treat

  • Acute interstitial pneumonia/pneumonitis
  • Alveolar capillary dysplasia
  • Alveolar hemorrhage syndromes (pulmonary capillaritis, acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage of infancy and idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis)
  • Aspiration-associated lung disease
  • Autoimmune- or rheumatologic-related lung disease
  • Bone marrow transplant associated lung disease/graft-versus-host lung disease
  • Bronchiolitis obliterans
  • Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia [BOOP])
  • Desquamative interstitial pneumonia
  • DNA repair disorders
  • Drug-induced lung disease
  • Eosinophilic pneumonia
  • Lung disease due to filamin A mutations
  • Follicular bronchiolitis
  • Pulmonary growth abnormalities
  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
  • Hypereosinophilic disorders
  • Immune-mediated lung disease
  • Immunocompromised host-associated lung disease
  • Primary immunodeficiency-associated lung disease
  • Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia
  • Lysosomal storage disorders
  • Neuroendocrine hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI)
  • Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia
  • Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
  • Pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis (PIG)
  • Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis
  • Pulmonary histiocytosis
  • Pulmonary lymphangiectasia
  • Pulmonary lymphangiomatosis (generalized lymphatic anomaly)
  • Pulmonary vascular disorders
  • Pulmonary sarcoidosis
  • Radiation- and chemotherapy-induced lung disease
  • Surfactant gene mutation-associated lung disease (SP-B, SP-C, ABCA3, TTF-1, GMCSF receptor)
  • Telomere biology disorders (dyskeratosis congenita)

Interstitial Lung Disease Treatment

The pediatric pulmonologists with Norton Children’s Pulmonology create a unique care plan for each child based on their chILD diagnosis. Treatment is based on the child’s health history and current condition. Treatment goals for chILD include:

  • Prevent further lung damage
  • Prevent low blood oxygen
  • Reduce extra strain on breathing
  • Nutritional support to help promote growth

Our pulmonologists work with providers throughout the Norton Children’s network should a child need further specialist care.

Pediatric Pulmonary Center

Our center specializes in caring for children with any type of respiratory disorder. Careful consideration is given to prescribe the best possible method of therapy following nationally accepted guidelines for treating child and other rare lung diseases, where applicable.

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