Children’s Interstitial Lung Disease (chILD)

The Children’s Interstitial Lung Disease (chILD) Factsheet is a vital resource for parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals seeking to understand this rare group of lung diseases affecting infants, children, and adolescents. The factsheet provides a comprehensive overview of chILD symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options, empowering families with essential knowledge for managing the condition.

chILD refers to a group of rare lung disorders that impair oxygen absorption in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties and reduced oxygen supply to other organs. Early diagnosis is crucial, as symptoms can vary in severity and worsen over time. Recognising early signs and seeking medical advice can improve outcomes and quality of life for affected children. It’s important to know each child experiences chILD differently. Some cases are mild with symptoms that slowly improve over time without treatment. In other cases, symptoms can remain severe and may lead to other complications and more complex treatments. Some severe cases may result in death. In many cases it is difficult to predict the long-term outcomes for children with chILD. More research is needed to learn more about this group of rare and often serious, childhood diseases.

The factsheet includes information about the following:

• Symptoms of chILD – Including fast breathing, recurrent cough, shortness of breath, poor growth, and clubbing (abnormal finger or toe enlargement).
• Types of chILD Diseases – Such as surfactant protein metabolism disorders, alveolar capillary dysplasia, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
• Potential Causes – Including genetic factors, immune disorders, and environmental triggers.
• Diagnostic Tests – Chest X-rays, CT scans, lung function tests, bronchoscopy, and genetic screening.

Treatment and Management – While there is no cure, options include anti-inflammatory medications and immune-modifying drugs, oxygen therapy, nutritional support, and in severe cases, lung transplantation. Other management strategies include ensuring vaccinations are up-to-date (this includes an annual flu vaccination (in children over six months), as well as vaccinating against pertussis (whooping cough) and RSV infections), avoiding exposure to smoke, and avoiding lung infections. Although it is almost impossible to prevent all lung infections, it is a good idea to avoid people who are suffering from colds and flus to reduce this risk.