Drug-induced pulmonary disease

[Tanya Shivari]

Drug-induced pulmonary disease is not a single disorder. Many drugs can cause lung problems in people who have no other lung disorders. The type of problem depends on the drug involved, but many of the drugs are thought to cause an allergic-type reaction. The disease is often more severe in older people. When not caused by an allergic-type reaction, the extent and severity of the disease are sometimes related to how large the drug dose was and how long the drug was taken.
Depending on the drug, people develop cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, or other lung symptoms. Symptoms may develop

Slowly over weeks to months
Suddenly and become severe

Diagnosis and treatment are the same, stopping the drug and observing whether the person