What is pulmonary fibrosis?
Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are a complex group of over 200 diseases that cause scarring (fibrosis) or inflammation in the lungs. PF is a category used to describe ILDs that are characterised by scarring.
PF is a rare lung disease. It causes the tissue around the air sacs in your lungs to become thick and scarred. This is called fibrosis. The scarring makes breathing harder and stops oxygen from getting into your blood, where it’s needed by other parts of your body.
There are many types of PF. Some people with PF also have other associated health problems, like rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma. When the cause of PF is unknown, this is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Take a look at our overview video below.
It’s important for your doctors to find the underlying type of PF so you can get the best treatment and care. The information on this page is common across the different types of PF. You should always speak with your doctor to get information that’s right for you.
What can I expect?
Pulmonary fibrosis affects everyone differently. How it changes over time is different for each person. It can depend on how severe your PF is and if you have other health problems.
If your PF is mild, you might not notice any changes in how your lungs are working. But for some people, the scarring can get worse over time. Treatment tries to slow down the scarring and help you manage your symptoms.
How common is IPF?
All types of pulmonary fibrosis are rare. Around 2,170 people in Australia are diagnosed with IPF each year. However, we don’t exactly know how many people are living with it. If you are diagnosed with IPF, just remember that you are not alone and support is available.
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