Interstitial lung disease
Disease Information
Overview
The goals of treating ILD are to prevent children from having low oxygen levels, reduce the work of breathing and provide nutritional support in order to optimize overall growth and development.
Alicia Casey, MD, co-director, Interstitial Lung Disease Program, Boston Children's Hospital
Boston Children’s Hospital is a world leader in pediatric respiratory diseases, including interstitial lung disease (ILD or chILD).We specialize in innovative, family-centered care that supports you at every step on your child’s journey to health.
Interstitial lung disease is not a single disease, but is instead a group of rare lung diseases that range from mild to severe and have different treatments and different outcomes. These diseases make it difficult for the lungs to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide and can cause fluid and other materials to collect in the lungs. (See our "In-Depth" page for a list of different ILDs).
How Boston Children’s Hospital approaches interstitial lung disease
Our Interstitial Lung Disease Program is made up of doctors, nurses, nutritionists and social workers who provide a full diagnosis and evaluation of each child with ILD.
We work with families to plan individualized therapy depending on the specific condition—to offer the best care of the child’s respiratory health, growth and nutrition. We help families arrange home health care support and supplies, transportation services and visiting nursing services. If needed, our Division of Pulmonary and Respiratory Diseases provides expert review and opinion, as well as other services and support, for lung transplantation.
Our ILD program is a part of the Children's Interstitial Lung Disease Research Network (ChILDRN), associated with the Children's Interstitial Lung Disease (ChILD) Foundation.
Clinical Services
