Other Pulmonary Diseases

This section highlights other diseases that affect the respiratory system.

Asbestosis is a chronic lung condition that is caused by prolonged exposure to high concentrations of asbestos fibers in the air. Though asbestosis is believed to be mostly an occupational disease, there are reports of secondhand exposure to asbestos containing dust. 

Mesothelioma -   Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that develops in the thin layer of tissue that covers most of your internal organs, called the mesothelium. The most common form, called pleural mesothelioma, occurs in the lining of the lungs.  

• Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the lining of the lungs (pleura) and less commonly the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum).
• Eight out of 10 people with mesothelioma report asbestos exposure, which is why it is considered the biggest risk factor of developing the disease.

To learn more visit:

 https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asbestosis/learn-about-asbestosis 

Aspergillosis is a fungal infection caused by Aspergillus, a type of mold that is found all over the world. We all inhale Aspergillus spores every day, but they cause illness in only people with preexisting lung disease, a specific immune sensitivity to aspergillus, or weakened immune systems. 

To learn more visit:

 https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/aspergillosis 

Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition where the walls of the bronchi are thickened from inflammation and infection. People with bronchiectasis have periodic flare-ups of breathing difficulties, called exacerbations. 

To learn more visit:

 https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/bronchiectasis 

 EVALI stands for e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury. It was originally known as VAPI (vaping associated pulmonary illness). The new name is in response to a growing number of severe lung illness cases related to using e-cigarette and vaping products, the first being identified during 2019.  If you currently using e-cigarettes or vaping and experience  shortness of breath, fever and chills, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, rapid heart rate and chest pain, it is important to be evaluated.  A chest x-ray or CT may need to be ordered to see if there are hazy spots (opacities) on your lungs that indicate tissue damage and rule out other respiratory diseases with similar symptoms.

To learn more visit:

 https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/evali 

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. This fungus is found in soil, particularly around places where large amounts of bird or bat droppings accumulate. In the United States Histoplasma is most common in Midwestern states, especially in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. 

To learn more visit:

 https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/histoplasmosis 

MAC lung disease is an infection caused a group of bacteria called Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). MAC includes two closely related species, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare, and may also be referred to as MAI. MAC is one of a large group of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), and the most common cause of NTM lung disease in the U.S. 

MAC organisms are common in soil and water and are easily inhaled during daily activities. Most of the time they cause no harm, but they can cause infection in groups with certain risk factors. These groups include people living with lung disease such as bronchiectasis and COPD, and people with a weakened immune system because of an autoimmune disorder or medical treatment such as drugs that compromise immunity. Postmenopausal women and people over 65 years old are also more likely to develop MAC lung disease than the general public. 

To learn more visit:

 https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/mac-lung-disease