Interstitial Lung Disease Treatment in Sharjah

What is interstitial lung disease?

Interstitial lung disease, often shortened to ILD, is an umbrella term for more than a hundred conditions that affect the interstitium, the delicate framework of tissue that surrounds the tiny air sacs of the lungs. When this tissue becomes inflamed, thickened or scarred, the lungs grow stiffer and oxygen moves less easily into the blood. Pulmonary fibrosis is the name for the scarring itself.

The causes fall into a few broad groups:

• Autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and myositis, where the immune system also targets the lungs
• Inhaled exposures at work or at home, including silica, asbestos, metal and wood dust, and mould
• Birds and feathers, which can trigger hypersensitivity pneumonitis; pigeons, parrots, falcons and feather bedding are recognised sources
• Some medicines and treatments, including certain heart rhythm, arthritis and cancer treatments, and radiotherapy to the chest
• Unknown causes, the most common being idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which mainly affects people over sixty

Identifying the type matters, because inflammatory forms and scarring forms respond to different treatments.

Who needs it

This service is for adults with a persistent dry cough or breathlessness that slowly builds over months, especially on stairs or slopes. A doctor listening to the chest may hear fine crackles at the base of the lungs, often compared to the sound of Velcro being pulled apart, which is a well-known early sign. Some people also develop clubbing, a rounding of the fingertips and nails.

It is also for people referred with a CT scan reporting fibrosis, ground-glass change or interstitial abnormality, and for people with an autoimmune condition whose rheumatologist wants the lungs checked. In the UAE, construction, stone cutting, sandblasting and industrial work, falconry, pigeon keeping, and long-standing mould from air conditioning units are all worth mentioning, as each points towards a specific cause. Work-related causes are covered in more depth on the occupational lung disease page.

What happens

Your pulmonologist at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah starts with a detailed history of your jobs, hobbies, home, pets and birds, medicines and joint or skin symptoms. This history is often the single most useful part of the diagnosis.

Tests usually include:

• High-resolution CT (HRCT) of the chest, arranged through CT scan and chest imaging, which shows the pattern and extent of change in fine detail
• Full pulmonary function testing, measuring lung volumes and gas transfer, which reflect how stiff the lungs are and how well oxygen crosses into the blood
• Oxygen levels at rest and during a walking test
• Blood tests for autoimmune markers
• Bronchoscopy in selected cases, to wash and sample the lower airways

Treatment depends on the type. Inflammatory forms are usually treated with anti-inflammatory and immune-calming medicines. Progressive scarring, including IPF, may be treated with anti-fibrotic medicines that slow the rate of scarring; these are often started or co-managed with a specialist ILD centre. Removing a trigger, such as birds, mould or a workplace dust, is part of treatment wherever one is found.

Supportive care includes oxygen for people whose levels fall, with home oxygen equipment arranged through a supplier; pulmonary rehabilitation by referral; vaccination; and help to stop smoking. For some people with advanced disease, referral to a lung transplant centre is discussed early, because assessment takes time.

Preparing for it

Bring every CT scan and chest X-ray you have had, on disc or with the report, however old. Comparing scans over time is how change is measured. Bring a full list of medicines, including those you have stopped in recent years, and any rheumatology letters or blood results.

Write down your jobs from your first employment onwards, with the materials you handled, and note any birds, feather pillows or duvets, damp or mould at home, and hobbies. For lung function tests, wear loose clothing and avoid smoking on the day.

Afterwards

ILD care continues over the long term. Reviews repeat lung function tests and oxygen checks, with CT when needed, to see whether the condition is stable or changing, and treatment is adjusted accordingly. Many people keep active with a paced routine, and staying indoors on dusty or sandstorm days eases the load on the lungs.

Call the hospital on 06 599 7777 if breathlessness, cough or tiredness increases over days, if you develop a fever or a chest infection, or if a new medicine gives you side effects.

Call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department if you are breathless at rest, your lips turn blue, you have chest pain, or you become confused or drowsy.

Cost and insurance

Most UAE insurance plans cover pulmonology consultations, CT scans, lung function tests and blood tests. HRCT, bronchoscopy, anti-fibrotic medicines and home oxygen commonly need insurance pre-approval. Contact Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777 to check your cover before tests begin.