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…
Allergic rhinitis is a disease in which the mucous membranes of the nose are swollen and irritated. This is caused by an allergy to grass or tree pollen, house dust…
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a genetic condition which increases the risk of lung and/or liver diseases. People with AAT deficiency have low levels of AAT protein in their blood…
Bird flu (avian influenza) has been an important topic in the news since it was first seen in humans. Although there have been lots of reports about the illness, do…
This factsheet explains what bronchiectasis is, what causes it, and how it is diagnosed and managed. More detailed information is available on the Bronchiectasis Patient Priorities website: www.europeanlunginfo.org/bronchiectasis
ChILD stands for children’s interstitial lung disease. It is used to describe over 200 rare lung conditions that affect children.
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…
Everyone experiences cough at some point in their lives. Healthy people will cough for protection, in order to clear the airways of substances that irritate the lungs such as smoke…
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…
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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…
This factsheet explains what IPF is, and how it can be diagnosed, treated and managed.
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…
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare lung condition that mainly affects women of childbearing age. Although it has been reported in men, it is extremely rare. It is estimated that three…
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…
Pneumonia is caused by an infection in the lungs. The infection affects the air sacs in the lungs rather than the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs.…
In recent years, the number of children surviving premature birth has grown. This means that there is potential to be an increase in the number of children and adults in…
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) refers to a pneumothorax, or collapsed lung, in someone without a known lung condition. This factsheet will provide more information on PSP, its symptoms and the…
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare condition affecting about 15 to 50 people out of every million. It is caused by very high blood pressure in the arteries that…
A pulmonary embolism is a clot in the blood vessels in the lungs and is a medical emergency. If you think you might have a pulmonary embolism, it is important…
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…
This factsheet is about sarcoidosis symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. It also explains how sarcoidosis affects people. It is for anyone affected by the condition whether you are newly diagnosed or…
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…
