Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia

[Raeanne Dimick]

Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia is an idiopathic interstitial pneumonia that occurs mainly in women, people who do not smoke, and people younger than 50 years.
(See also Overview of Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias.)
Most people who have nonspecific interstitial pneumonia are women between the ages of 40 and 50. Most have no known cause or risk factor. However, a similar process can develop in people with connective tissue disorders (in particular, systemic sclerosis, polymyositis, or dermatomyositis), in some forms of drug-induced lung injury, and in people with hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
A dry cough and shortness of breath develop over months to years. Low-grade fever and a feeling of illness (malaise) may occur, but high fever, weight loss, and other general symptoms of illness are unusual.