Pulmonary Fibrosis

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  • Created by: Georgina
  • Created on: 02-12-11 20:35

Pulmonary Fibrosis - means scarring (thickening) of the tissue of the lung.

 

Causes

It has no known cause which is why it is known as ‘idiopathic’ pulmonary fibrosis.

However, is it thought that it is triggered when the cells that line the lung alveoli (air sacs) become damaged. The affected cells try to repair themselves but the process becomes uncontrolled, resulting in thickening and scarring (fibrosis) of the alveoli and surrounding lung tissue.

 

Transmissions

Triggers include smoking cigarettes, viral infections (hepatitis C and Epstein- Barr), and Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and hereditary (passed down through genes).

 

Symptoms

The most common symptom is breathlessness (especially when exercising), persistent chronic dry cough, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. If Pulmonary Fibrosis

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