‘Interstitial’ means the disease affects the ‘interstitium’, a lace-like network of tissue that supports the alveoli (air sacs) in your lungs.
There are more than 200 different types of ILD. All of them are rare but those seen most often are covered in this information. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common type of ILD.
Other common types of ILD include:
sarcoidosis
extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA)
ILD caused by drug side effects
ILD associated with collagen vascular diseases.
When you have ILD, inflammation or scar tissue builds up in your lungs, making them thick and hard. This build-up of scar tissue is called fibrosis. As your lungs become stiffer and lose their elasticity, they are less able to take oxygen from the air you breathe. People with ILD can feel breathless from simple everyday activities like walking. Coughing is another common symptom.
How does ILD affect your lungs?
Each time you breathe, air is drawn into your nose or mouth, down through your throat and into your windpipe (trachea).