Interstitial pneumonitis, or interstitial lung disease, is a group of diseases mainly characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the interstitium of the lungs, most of which are of unknown etiology, and some of which are related to environmental factors, medications, and diseases, etc. Dyspnea and shortness of breath are the main clinical manifestations.
Interstitial lung diseases are mainly divided into four categories according to the etiology, clinical and pathological features: interstitial lung diseases with known causes, idiopathic interstitial lung diseases, granulomatous interstitial lung diseases and other rare interstitial lung diseases.
1. Interstitial Lung Disease of Known Causes: It mainly includes environmental factors, such as silica dust, asbestos fibers, etc.; drugs, such as methotrexate, amiodarone, etc., which can damage the lung tissues and cause interstitial lung disease; and disease factors, such as rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases such as desiccation syndrome, etc., all of which can lead to interstitial lung disease.
2. idiopathic interstitial lung disease: mainly refers to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, is a kind of chronic, progressive, fibrotic interstitial pneumonia, the cause is not clear, preferred in the elderly.
3. Granulomatous interstitial lung disease: mainly refers to nodular disease, the etiology of which is unknown, it is a granulomatous disease with multi-systemic involvement, mainly invading the lungs and lymphatic system.
4. Other rare interstitial lung diseases: mainly including pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis, pulmonary Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis, etc. The onset of interstitial lung disease is relatively insidious, and there are usually no obvious clinical manifestations in the early stage. In the later stages, it may manifest as dyspnea, shortness of breath, etc. It may also present with persistent dry cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, muscle and joint pains, and other symptoms.
It is recommended that people with the corresponding symptoms consult a doctor in time, and after a clear diagnosis, actively carry out the appropriate treatment to slow down the progression of the disease.