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Concept
Pulmonary fibrosis
Summary
Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the lungs become scarred over time. Symptoms include shortness of breath, a dry cough, feeling tired, weight loss, and nail clubbing. Complications may include pulmonary hypertension, respiratory failure, pneumothorax, and lung cancer.
Causes include environmental pollution, certain medications, connective tissue diseases, infections, and interstitial lung diseases. However, in most cases the cause is unknown, and termed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Diagnosis may be based on symptoms, medical imaging, lung biopsy, and lung function tests.
No cure exists and only limited treatment options are available. Treatment is directed towards efforts to improve symptoms and may include oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation. Certain medications may be used to try to slow the worsening of scarring. Lung transplantation may occasionally be an option. At least 5 million people are affected globally. Life expectancy is generally less than five years.
Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are mainly:
Shortness of breath, particularly with exertion
Chronic dry, hacking coughing
Fatigue and weakness
Chest discomfort including chest pain
Loss of appetite and rapid weight loss
Pulmonary fibrosis is suggested by a history of progressive shortness of breath (dyspnea) with exertion. Sometimes fine inspiratory crackles can be heard at the lung bases on auscultation. A chest X-ray may or may not be abnormal, but high-resolution CT will frequently demonstrate abnormalities.
Pulmonary fibrosis may be a secondary effect of other diseases. Most of these are classified as interstitial lung diseases. Examples include autoimmune disorders, viral infections and bacterial infection like tuberculosis which may cause fibrotic changes in both lung's upper or lower lobes and other microscopic injuries to the lung. However, pulmonary fibrosis can also appear without any known cause. In this case, it is termed "idiopathic". Most idiopathic cases are diagnosed as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Official source
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