Lung conditions are one of the world’s biggest health concerns, causing about one sixth of all deaths worldwide. The impact of lung diseases remains as large today as it was at the turn of the century and is likely to remain so for several decades. Lung conditions cause disability and premature death. They have a huge cost related to primary care, hospital care and treatments, as well as the loss of productivity of those who cannot work and people who die early because of their condition.
Acute lower respiratory infections include pneumonia (infection of the lung alveoli), as well as infections affecting the airways such as acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis, influenza and whooping cough. They are…
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition where the lungs are unable to work properly. It is caused by injury to the capillary wall either from illness or…
Asthma is a common, long-term condition that can affect people of all ages. It causes inflammation in the airways. The term adult asthma refers to either: Childhood asthma that has…
Bronchiectasis describes the widening (“ectasis”) of some of the airways. The airways normally produce a small amount of mucus (sputum or phlegm) which traps any germs that enter the lungs.…
Asthma is a condition that causes inflammation in the airways. It is the most common long-term condition in children. Asthma can start at any time of life, but is likely…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term condition that causes inflammation in the lungs, damaged lung tissue and a narrowing of the airways, making breathing difficult. There are many…
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease, which is most common in white children and young adults, although it can affect people of any race. It used to be thought…
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), also known as diffuse parenchymal lung diseases, result from damage to the cells surrounding the alveoli (air sacs) leading to widespread inflammation and fibrotic scarring of…
Lung cancer is cancer of the trachea (windpipe), bronchus (airway) or lung air sacs (alveoli). Lung cancer was a rare disease at the start of the 20th century, but increase…
Research has shown that lung problems account for about one quarter of all visits by children to a general practitioner. The two main conditions affecting children are asthma and cystic…
Occupational, or work-related, lung conditions are conditions that have been caused or made worse by the materials a person is exposed to within the workplace. The impact of these conditions…
There are two main types of pulmonary vascular diseases: pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary embolism occurs due to blood clots which block branches of the arteries in the lungs,…
A rare disease is defined as one that affects fewer than one person in every 2,000 people in Europe. Orphan diseases are those which are not widely researched, those where…
The term ‘sleep disordered breathing’ refers to a range of conditions that result in abnormal breathing during sleep. The most common is sleep apnoea. Apnoea means a temporary pause in…
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Recently, new strains have emerged that are resistant to commonly used drugs. Like other bacteria, mycobacteria can undergo…
