10 August 2018
This article provides an overview of a collection of diseases collectively known as interstitial lung disease (ILD). The
terminology and names have changed over time with an expanding, complex classification. This article discusses
some of the more commonly recognised classes of ILD. These conditions are increasingly recognised but provide
diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. General practice nurses (GPNs) are ideally placed for early symptom
recognition and onward referral to secondary care specialist service for multidisciplinary team discussion, diagnosis
and management.