Your Care Instructions
Interstitial lung disease is a long-term (chronic) lung disease. It happens because of damage between the air sacs in the lung. The damage scars the lung and causes breathing problems.
People with interstitial lung disease get breathless during exercise and may have a dry cough. These problems may get worse slowly or very quickly.
Interstitial lung disease can be caused by breathing in dust from asbestos and silica. It also can be caused by infections and some medicines. Sometimes doctors cannot find the cause.
You may get medicine to treat the problem. Corticosteroids can sometimes reduce the swelling of lung tissue and prevent more damage. Oxygen treatment may help your condition.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.