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Paediatric Pulmonology and Allergology
2004 October, Vol. VII, No. 2 (2569-2583)
Interstitial Lung Disease in Children
Andrew Bush
There are major differences in interstitial lung disease (ILD) as it occurs in adults and children. Paediatric ILD is certainly rare disease. The spectrum may be defined as encompassing inflammatory interstitial diseases of varying morphology with no underlying cause, as well as more specific diagnoses which may be associated with, for example, an immunodeficiency. Strictly, the definition of ILD is pathological, increased or abnormal inflammatory cells within the alveoli and interstitium. The infiltrate may be of varying cell types. In an individual case, this definition can only be made after a lung biopsy, and it is more helpful to start at the clinical end, with presentation. This paper will describe the diagnostic workup of children with suspected ILD, and describe such information as is known about possible treatments.