A cluster of diseases that cause the inflammation and scarring of the lungs often stay under the radar of diagnosis.
A city hospital on Thursday announced the launch of a dedicated clinic to treat interstitial lung disease (ILD).
“ILD is a broad group of uncommon conditions of the lungs. Incessant cough and progressively worsening breathlessness are the most common symptoms. It can be mildly symptomatic and may improve with simple measures like smoking cessation, or it may be progressive with ever-worsening symptoms,” said a communication from Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, Kolkata.
“ILD seems to occur when an injury to the lungs triggers an abnormal healing response. Generally, the body generates just the right amount of tissue to repair damage. But in ILD, the repair process goes awry and the tissue around the air sacs (alveoli) becomes scarred and thickened,” it said.
Incessant cough
It is a cardinal symptom of ILD, said doctors. Progressive breathlessness is also another symptom, they added.
Smoking is the major cause of ILD, the doctors said at the launch.
Exposure to dust, chemicals and pigeon droppings are also among the causes, they said. Infections, particularly Covid, may cause ILD by promoting abnormal healing, they added.
“ILD pushes the patient at a higher risk, a seriously compromised lifestyle and, ultimately, loss of life. A transplant is the last resort when the situation worsens. In our clinic, our aim will be to ensure that a patient does not have to go that far. But if needed, we have the expertise for lung transplant,” said rheumatologist Syamasis Bandyopadhyay.
Several doctors said delayed, and wrong, diagnosis is a major stumbling block in proper treatment of ILD.
“In respiratory health, precision is paramount. Mislabelling chronic respiratory conditions as ILD is common. It deprives patients of beneficial treatment. Our clinic is dedicated to providing precision diagnosis and tailored management plans,” said Arindam Mukherjee, senior consultant, department of pulmonology at the hospital.
The ILD management programme at the clinic will focus on symptom relief, slowing of the progression of the disease and enhancing the overall quality of life, said an official of the hospital.
“The clinic comprises a team of experts, including pulmonologists, critical care specialists, radiologists and rheumatologists. This facilitates a comprehensive diagnosis and maximum support,” said Suresh Ramasubban, critical-care expert.
Rana Dasgupta, the CEO of the hospital, said: “Misdiagnosis is common in ILD patients. Increased awareness is one of the major ways to combat ILD. This clinic will go a long way in treating ILD patients as well as managing the critical ones”.