Interstitial pneumonia in adults

Interstitial pneumonia is a specific type of inflammation in which there is a very high probability that the pathology will become chronic. Although the disease occurs infrequently, it is extremely dangerous.

What is interstitial pneumonia

In classical pneumonia, inflammation occurs in the area of ​​the air sacs – the alveoli. Because of this, the lungs are worse at exchanging gases with the blood and the environment. The key difference between interstitial pneumonia is the inflammatory process of the tissue that surrounds the sacs and forms the framework of the organ (interstitial or connective tissue).

The process can be acute or chronic, the tissues around the alveoli swell, because of which the lungs do not expand well when breathing, they become “hard”. As a result, scarring (fibrosis) begins to form in the lungs, which makes them perform their functions worse and worse.

Causes of interstitial pneumonia in adults

The true reason why this pneumonia occurs, scientists still do not know for sure. There are versions that the cause may be a violation of the immune system. But in order for the immune system to rebel against the host, some external provocateurs are needed. Among them:

• some types of infections – mycoplasma, chlamydia, herpes virus, legionella, pneumocystis;
• bad habits (especially smoking, vaping, hookahs);
• HIV and AIDS;
• autoimmune processes in the body (Sjogren’s syndrome);
• immune disorders (changes in the level of immunoglobulins in the blood).
  

Sometimes drugs can act as provocateurs – preparations of gold, lithium, amiodarone.

Signs of Interstitial Pneumonia in Adults

Interstitial pneumonia is not one disease, but a whole group of pneumonias that have one common symptom – the tissues around the alveoli, the framework that forms the structure of the lungs, become inflamed. Therefore, doctors distinguish several groups of such pneumonia:

• ordinary (simple) interstitial pneumonia, which is also called fibrosing alveolitis or pulmonary fibrosis of idiopathic origin;
• non-specific pneumonia;
• Hamman-Rich syndrome or acute interstitial inflammation;
• desquamative form (with macrophage cells);
• lymphocytic (lymphocytes predominate);
• organizing cryptogenic pneumonia.

The danger of this type of inflammation is that it can affect a small focus of the lung or spread to a lobe or the whole lung, and no one is able to predict this. Symptoms may be very mild at the beginning but gradually develop. Most typical:

• dry cough with a small amount of sputum, which is very difficult to cough up;
• difficulty breathing when it is impossible to breathe deeply;
• shortness of breath, which at first can only be with exertion, and then appears even at rest;
• chest pain;
• choking attacks at night, a sudden feeling that there is not enough air;
• weight loss;
• sleep disorders;
• decreased activity due to fatigue and shortness of breath.

In some people, cyanosis of the skin occurs, first on the fingers and nasolabial triangle, gradually the whole skin takes on a bluish tint. Rarely is the temperature, it is low. Some people report joint pain, pressure changes, and swelling. Problems can last from 2 months to 2 years, and gradually get worse.

Treatment of interstitial pneumonia in adults

This type of pneumonia must be treated actively and strictly under the guidance of a physician. Without his clear recommendations and if the treatment regimen is violated, serious problems with the lungs, heart and secondary microbial complications are possible, which can lead to death.

Diagnostics

It is sometimes difficult even for an experienced doctor to make an accurate diagnosis right away. Important are the patient’s complaints with indications that the disease developed gradually, and the examination data. If the doctor listens to the lungs with a phonendoscope, he will not hear typical wheezing, as with classic pneumonia, so it is important to supplement the research:

• blood and urine tests, sputum examination;
• x-ray and CT of the lungs;
• obligatory measurement of lung capacity (spirometry);
• lung biopsy – taking a piece of tissue and examining it in the laboratory.

In addition, the doctor prescribes an ECG, an ultrasound of the heart, since the heart also suffers in parallel with the lungs.

Modern treatments

If you start treatment at an early stage, you can significantly improve the condition. In acute interstitial pneumonia, patients need oxygen or a ventilator. They also use hormones (corticosteroids – prednisone, dexamethasone), cytostatic drugs that suppress inflammation and aggression of the immune system.

You definitely need to give up bad habits, a full diet, treatment with hormone preparations in combination with cytostatics for up to six months. May prescribe drugs that prevent thrombosis, antioxidants, prostaglandins. In severe cases, only a lung transplant can save patients.

Prevention of interstitial pneumonia in adults at home

Given the fact that doctors do not yet know the true cause of this pneumonia, there are practically no preventive measures developed. The only thing that is obvious is that smoking cessation can seriously reduce the risks.

The rest of the recommendations are standard for any disease – a healthy diet, walks in the fresh air, physical activity (feasible, but daily).

Popular questions and answers

Interstitial pneumonia is always a serious situation. Therefore, it is important to monitor the state of health, and noticing the first signs of pathology, immediately contact a specialist. How dangerous this pneumonia is, will tell us general practitioner Elena Tyulpina.