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Published on: June 16, 2020

Clinical profile of interstitial lung disease in Indian children

Jhuma Sankar1, Mrinal S Pillai, M Jeeva Sankar

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. skkabra@hotmail.com

Indian Pediatrics
|June 26, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) in children often presents with cough and breathlessness. A higher ILD score and lower alkaline phosphatase levels predict poor short-term outcomes in pediatric ILD patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Clinical Pediatrics

Background:

  • Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses a heterogeneous group of lung disorders affecting children.
  • Understanding the clinical spectrum and prognostic factors in pediatric ILD is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To delineate the clinical presentation of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in children.
  • To identify factors associated with adverse short-term outcomes in pediatric ILD.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of children diagnosed with ILD between 1999 and 2010.
  • ILD severity assessed using a score based on clinical features and oxygen saturation (SpO2).
  • Outcomes evaluated at 3 months post-diagnosis (improved vs. death/no improvement).

Main Results:

  • Ninety children (median age 6.8 years) were diagnosed with ILD.
  • Common symptoms included cough (82.2%) and dyspnea (80%).
  • A higher ILD score (RR 3.72) and lower alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly linked to poor short-term outcomes (P=0.006).

Conclusions:

  • Breathlessness, cough, and hypoxemia are key clinical features of pediatric ILD.
  • Diagnosis may involve imaging, bronchoscopy, or lung biopsy.
  • A clinical score incorporating findings and pulse oximetry may predict poor short-term outcomes in children with ILD.
Abstract

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