Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) & Pulmonary Fibrosis in Guwahati

What is interstitial lung disease (ILD), and can it be treated?

Interstitial lung disease is a group of conditions in which the lung tissue becomes scarred (fibrosis), making it progressively harder to breathe and often causing a persistent dry cough and fatigue. It is frequently missed or mistaken for asthma early on, which is why specialist assessment matters. At Breathe Clinic, our pulmonology team diagnoses ILD using lung function tests (including diffusion testing) and high-resolution imaging, and manages it with the right medication, oxygen support, and pulmonary rehabilitation to slow its progression and protect your quality of life.

Reviewed by Dr. Smitakshi Medhi, MD, Consultant Pulmonologist.

When to get assessed: a dry cough and breathlessness that have crept up over months, especially with fatigue or if asthma/COPD treatment hasn't helped.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pulmonary fibrosis the same as ILD?
Pulmonary fibrosis is one type of interstitial lung disease — the form involving lung scarring. ILD is the broader group.

Can ILD be cured?
Most types can't be cured, but the right treatment can slow scarring, ease symptoms, and meaningfully improve day-to-day breathing and life expectancy. Early diagnosis matters most.

How is ILD diagnosed?
Through lung function tests with diffusion capacity (DLCO), high-resolution CT imaging, and specialist review — sometimes more detailed tests.