INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONITIS Meaning and
Definition
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Interstitial pneumonitis refers to a medical condition characterized by inflammation and swelling of the lung tissue located between the alveoli, the tiny air sacs responsible for gas exchange. It is an interstitial lung disease that can be acute or chronic in nature. In this condition, the walls of the alveoli become thickened due to the accumulation of inflammatory cells, excess fluid, and fibrous tissue.
The acute form of interstitial pneumonitis usually occurs suddenly and results from the inhalation of harmful substances, such as toxic fumes, viruses, bacteria, or certain medications. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, coughing, fever, fatigue, and chest pain. In some cases, it may progress rapidly and lead to respiratory failure.
On the other hand, chronic interstitial pneumonitis develops gradually over time and is often linked to long-term exposure to irritants or underlying autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis or sarcoidosis. Symptoms of the chronic form may include a persistent dry cough, breathlessness during physical activity, weight loss, clubbing of the fingers, and a general feeling of weakness.
Diagnosis of interstitial pneumonitis typically involves a combination of medical history review, physical examination, imaging tests (such as chest X-ray or high-resolution computed tomography), lung function tests, and sometimes a lung biopsy. Treatment options depend on the underlying cause and severity of the condition but may include corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, immune-suppressing drugs, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and avoidance of known triggers.
Common Misspellings for INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONITIS
- unterstitial pneumonitis
- jnterstitial pneumonitis
- knterstitial pneumonitis
- onterstitial pneumonitis
- 9nterstitial pneumonitis
- 8nterstitial pneumonitis
- ibterstitial pneumonitis
- imterstitial pneumonitis
- ijterstitial pneumonitis
- ihterstitial pneumonitis
- inrerstitial pneumonitis
- inferstitial pneumonitis
- ingerstitial pneumonitis
- inyerstitial pneumonitis
- in6erstitial pneumonitis
- in5erstitial pneumonitis
- intwrstitial pneumonitis
- intsrstitial pneumonitis
- intdrstitial pneumonitis
- intrrstitial pneumonitis
Etymology of INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONITIS
The term "interstitial pneumonitis" is composed of two main words: "interstitial" and "pneumonitis".
1. "Interstitial" originated from the Latin word "interstitium", which refers to the spaces or gaps that exist between the cells or tissues of an organ or structure. It can also mean "between" or "among". The word "interstitium" is derived from the Latin preposition "inter", meaning "between", and the suffix "-stitium", which denotes a state or condition. It can be seen in various medical terms related to the interstitial spaces of different organs.
2. "Pneumonitis" derives from the Greek word "pneumon", which means "lung". The suffix "-itis" is a Greek suffix indicating inflammation. Thus, "pneumonitis" signifies inflammation of the lung tissue.
