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Types of Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease
The broad term "childhood interstitial lung disease" (chILD) refers to a group of rare lung diseases that can affect babies, children, and teens. Some of these diseases are more common in certain age groups.
Diseases more common in infancy include:
- Surfactant (sur-FAK-tant) dysfunction mutations
- Developmental disorders, such as alveolar capillary dysplasia
- Lung growth abnormalities
- Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI)
- Pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis (PIG)
Diseases more common in children older than 2 years of age include:
- Autoimmune-associated lung disease
- Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP)
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Diseases that can occur at any age:
- Immunodeficiency-associated lung disease
- Lung and bone marrow transplant-associated lung disease
- Bronchiolitis obliterans
- Pulmonary hemorrhage
The various types of chILD can affect many parts of the lungs, including the alveoli (air sacs), bronchial tubes (airways), and capillaries. (Capillaries are the tiny blood vessels that surround the air sacs.) The structures of the lung that chILD may affect are shown in the illustration below.
Normal Lungs and Lung Structures
Figure A shows the location of the lungs and airways in the body. Figure B is a detailed view of the lung structures that childhood interstitial lung disease may affect, such as the bronchioles, neuroendocrine cells, alveoli, capillary network, surfactant, and interstitial space.
Clinical trials are research studies that explore whether a medical strategy, treatment, or device is safe and effective for humans. To find clinical trials that are currently underway for Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Visit Children and Clinical Studies to hear experts, parents, and children talk about their experiences with clinical research.
The NHLBI updates Health Topics articles on a biennial cycle based on a thorough review of research findings and new literature. The articles also are updated as needed if important new research is published. The date on each Health Topics article reflects when the content was originally posted or last revised.
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