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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffSigns and symptoms of the wide variety of disorders classified as interstitial lung disease may include:
- A feeling of breathlessness (dyspnea), especially during or after physical activity
- A dry cough
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
- Fingernails that curve over the tops of your fingertips (clubbing)
Breathlessness and a dry cough are often the primary signs and symptoms. Because these problems are vague and tend to develop gradually — often long after you have irreversible lung damage — you may assume they are due to aging, asthma, being overweight or out of shape, smoking, or the lingering effects of an upper respiratory infection.
Symptoms tend to become progressively worse. Eventually you may notice you're getting out of breath during routine activities — getting dressed, talking on the phone, even eating. At this point, breathing problems become impossible to ignore.
When to see a doctor
By the time signs and symptoms such as breathlessness and cough appear, irreversible lung damage has often already occurred. Nevertheless, it's important to see your doctor at the first sign of breathing problems. Many conditions other than interstitial lung disease can affect your lungs, and getting an early and accurate diagnosis is important for proper treatment.
- King TE, et al. Approach to diagnosis and management of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. In: Mason RJ, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: W.B. Saunders; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/138709448-3/0/1288/473.html?tocnode=51472932&fromURL=473.html#4-u1.0-B0-7216-0327-0..50056-2_2996. Accessed May 20, 2009.
- Raghu G. Interstitial lung disease. In: Goldman L, et al., eds. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/138709448-4/843693028/1492/374.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50097-5--cesec72_3869. Accessed May 20, 2009.
- King TE. Approach to the adult with interstitial lung disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 20, 2009.
- Interstitial lung diseases. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec05/ch055/ch055a.html. Accessed May 20, 2009.
- Aggarwal N, et al. Interstitial lung disease. In: Nilsson K, et al. The Osler Medical Handbook. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/142440259-3/850406526/1387/103.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-03748-8..50092-0_1514. Accessed May 20, 2009.
- Possible side effects of radiation therapy. American Cancer Society. Accessed May 20, 2009.
- King TE. Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 20, 2009.
- Rosenow EC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 31, 2009.
