Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Introduction: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Lung fibrosis from unknown causes. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is available below.

Symptoms of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Dry cough
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty with exertion
• Fingertips enlargement (clubbing)

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis:

• Home Lung Function Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Physical exam
• Chest x-ray
• Chest CT scan
• Blood tests
• Blood oxygen level

See full list of 8 diagnostic tests for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Wrongly Diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?

• Misdiagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Failure to diagnose Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Failure to diagnose Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Misdiagnosis and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Chronic lung diseases hard to diagnose: Some of the chronic lung diseases are difficult to diagnose. Even the well-knowns conditions such as asthma or lung cancer often fail to be diagnosed early. Some of the chronic lung diseases with diagnostic difficulties include asthma (perhaps surprisingly), COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, mesothelioma, smoker's cough, AIDS-related respiratory conditions (see AIDS), chronic pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases. Rare possibilities include diseases like psittacosis (bird-related lung infection). See other types of chronic lung diseases....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Causes of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Read more about causes of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Treatments for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Medications
  • Prednisone
  • Cyclophosphamide (cytoxan)
  • Azathioprine
  • Penicillamine

See full list of 11 treatments for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Videos for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Patient Surveys for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
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Prognosis for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Prognosis for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Poor. Often death within 4-6 years of diagnosis.

More about prognosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Stories from Users Related to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Definitions of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis:

Chronic inflammation and progressive fibrosis of the pulmonary alveolar walls with steady progressive dyspnea; finally, resulting in death from lack of oxygen or right heart failure. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, or a subtype of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)