Interstitial lung disease

Interstitial lung disease refers to a large group of disorders that cause scarring of lung tissue. The scarring may affect breathing and the ability to get enough oxygen into the bloodstream. Interstitial lung disease can be caused by exposure to hazardous materials, severe chronic infection and by some types of autoimmune diseases.

When a child has interstitial lung disease, they’re also at risk for pulmonary hypertension, a condition in which the pressure inside the blood vessels of the lung is abnormally high. Treating these patients requires collaborative care, which is why we developed the Children's Hospital Interstitial Lung Disease (CHILD) conference. This multidisciplinary group meets on a regular basis to review pediatric pulmonary patients with interstitial lung disease and to discuss long-term therapeutic treatment options. The dedicated team consists of surgical specialists, pulmonary specialists, radiologists and pathologists.

If surgery is required, the vast majority of patients can undergo a minimally invasive approach to avoid a major chest incision, decrease pain and speed up healing.