Condition: Postinflammatory Pulmonary Fibrosis

Postinflammatory pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the tissues in the lungs thicken or become scarred. The lung tissues also become rigid, which makes breathing difficult. As postinflammatory pulmonary fibrosis advances, lung tissue becomes more damaged and shortness of breath worsens. Generally, the cause of pulmonary fibrosis isn’t known.

Postinflammatory pulmonary fibrosis typically occurs after some sort of infection that causes serious damage to the lung tissues. There is no cure for postinflammatory pulmonary fibrosis, but medications like corticosteroid drugs may be helpful in managing inflammation and swelling. Damage to the lungs caused by postinflammatory pulmonary fibrosis is permanent, and those with significant damage may need a lung transplant.