Lung fibrosis

Why in news?

An article published in Lung India indicates that pulmonary fibrosis is reported in vast number of post-Covid-19 survivors.

What is pulmonary fibrosis?

It is the inflammation of the tissue around the air sacs of the lungs leading to fatigue and shortness of breath.
The lungs become stiff and the ability of oxygen to enter the blood circulation diminishes.

How serious is the threat from lung fibrosis?

It usually occurs in elderly people but it is now common among Covid-19 patients.

While the majority of patients affected by Covid-19 virus will stabilise or improve over time, some will progress to advanced lung fibrosis.
Hence large numbers of fibrosis cases may potentially result from the pandemic.

Which patients are like to develop long-term pulmonary abnormalities?

It is too early to determine it.
In the case of a 45-year-old non-smoker ,who was in ICU with severe Covid-19 ARDS progressed to end stage fibrotic lung disease within 28 days, despite receiving steroids.
However, those with moderate or severe disease, with persisting symptoms or radiological abnormalities, would require further investigation.

How can anti-fibrotic drugs prevent and treat of post-Covid fibrosis cases ?

Anti-fibrotic drugs are believed to be useful in patients with acute severity of interstitial lung disease (ILD)
Apart from drugs, focus should be on supportive management as well — giving home oxygen therapy, chest physiotherapy (breathing exercises under supervision) and good nutrition.
Patients with the most severe ARDS are most likely to end up in fibrosis & they require prolonged ventilation with high oxygen requirements along with anti-fibrotics steroids.
It is essential that post-Covid recovery clinics must extensively follow up on patients up to a total duration of 36 months to better understand the natural course of the disease.

Source: The Indian Express