Interstitial lung disease (ILD), a group of conditions damaging the lung's interstitial tissue and affecting gas exchange, poses a significant threat, often proving more dangerous than various cancers. Professor, Doctor Dong Khac Hung, deputy professional director of Phuong Dong General Hospital, highlighted this concern at a scientific workshop on 26/9 in Hanoi.

With approximately 200 identified forms, ILD exhibits widely differing rates of progression and prognoses. Particularly, advanced forms often carry a grim outlook. Statistics show that about 50% of patients survive for only about 2,5 years, and 20% do not live beyond 5 years after diagnosis.

"Some forms of interstitial lung disease have a shorter lifespan than many types of lung cancer," Professor Hung stated. He emphasized that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and progressive pulmonary fibrosis are especially worrying within this group. When lung damage advances to fibrosis, respiratory function significantly declines, making treatment increasingly difficult.

Doctor Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, director of the Center for Treatment of Rare Lung Diseases and Respiratory Infections at the National Lung Hospital, recounted a poignant case. Her team admitted a 36-year-old male patient suffering from severe shortness of breath. Just a few months prior, he had been actively playing football. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed centrilobular nodular lesions, leading to a diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a form of ILD. Despite intensive medical efforts, the patient's condition worsened, and he died after about one month. "This disease progresses very rapidly and is dangerous," Doctor Ngoc remarked.

ILD frequently manifests with vague symptoms, such as a persistent dry cough and shortness of breath during exertion, which are easily mistaken for common respiratory ailments. This often leads to delayed diagnosis, with many individuals only seeking medical attention once lung damage has significantly progressed. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a notable form, triggered by an immune system reaction when a patient is exposed to specific antigens in their living or working environments.

Certain occupations carry a higher risk due to frequent exposure to various allergens. Individuals working in leather goods, garment manufacturing, agricultural processing, food preservation, and poultry farming may regularly encounter organic dust, fabric dust, animal dander, and other irritants. Furthermore, damp environments, cold storage facilities for seafood, and areas prone to mold growth are recognized risk factors.

Within the home, factors such as mold, damp conditions, cooking fumes, or keeping pet birds can also contribute to the development of ILD.

Doctors caring for a patient in the intensive care unit. Photo: Quynh Tran

A key indicator of hypersensitivity pneumonitis is the appearance or worsening of symptoms after exposure to an environment containing causative agents. Symptoms, which can include shortness of breath, chest tightness, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue, may manifest approximately 4-8 hours post-exposure. A distinctive feature is that symptoms often subside when the patient takes time off work or leaves the exposed environment but reappear upon returning.

It is important to note that not all interstitial lung diseases are environmentally induced. The exact cause of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, for example, remains unknown. However, for cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, early detection and precise identification of the causative agent are vital. According to Doctor Ngoc, eliminating the source of exposure can lead to an improvement in lung damage for some patients. For instance, in situations involving household mold, thoroughly addressing the dampness and preventing re-exposure can help improve the condition. Conversely, continued exposure to the trigger can cause the damage to progress and lead to fibrosis.

Doctor Ngoc also advised that conventional chest X-rays might not detect early-stage interstitial lung damage. When indicated, patients should undergo evaluation using computed tomography (CT), particularly high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans, to accurately identify the characteristics and extent of the lung damage.

Experts recommend that the public maintain well-ventilated homes, promptly address any dampness or mold, and limit contact with identified allergens. Workers in high-risk environments should be provided with appropriate protective gear, ensure safe working conditions, and undergo regular health check-ups to mitigate their risk of developing ILD.

Le Nga