Diseases

Pulmonary Fibrosis

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Pulmonary fibrosis (literally "scarring of the lungs") is a respiratory disease in which scars are formed in the lung tissues, leading to serious breathing problems.

SYMPTOMS

Shortness of breath (dyspnea), a dry cough, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, aching muscles and joints, widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes (clubbing)

CAUSES

Chronic inflammatory processes (sarcoidosis, wegener's granulomatosis), infections, environmental agents (asbestos, silica, exposure to certain gases), exposure to ionizing radiation (such as radiation therapy to treat tumors of the chest).