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Types of ResourcesInterstitial Lung Disease (ILD), or diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD), is a group of lung diseases affecting the interstitium (the tissue and space around the air sacs of the lungs). It may occur when an injury to the lungs triggers an abnormal healing response. Ordinarily, the body generates just the right amount of tissue to repair damage. But in interstitial lung disease, the repair process goes awry and the tissue around the air sacs (alveoli) becomes scarred and thickened. This makes it more difficult for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream. The term ILD is used to distinguish these diseases from obstructive airways diseases.
Symptoms
- Shortness of breath, especially when active
- Dry, hacking cough without creating phlegm
- Extreme fatigue and weakness.
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Chest discomfort
- Difficulty, or fast/shallow breathing
- Bleeding in the lungs