Pediatria pre prax 6/2009

Interstitial lung diseases in childhood

Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) in children represents a heterogeneous group of rare respiratory disorders characterised by restrictive lung disease and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. Affected children usually present with dry cough, dyspnoea and tachypnoea. In children suffering from severe ILD, chronic hypoxemia, cyanosis, finger clubbing and growth failure occur. High resolution computed tomography provides detailed diagnostic information about the extent and distribution of the lung pathology and has become the most relevant imaging technique for ILD in children. However the diagnostic gold standard is still lung biopsy where the characteristic histological findings of inflammation in pulmonary interstitium and/or fibrosis can be found.

Keywords: interstitial lung diseases, diagnosis, treatment, children.