Is pulmonary fibrosis contagious? It needs timely treatment

Pulmonary fibrosis can cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, dry cough, and respiratory failure. This disease is not contagious, but it still needs to be treated as soon as possible, otherwise it will cause many complications, leading to respiratory failure, and ultimately posing a threat to life safety.

1. Oxygen therapy: Oxygen therapy can improve the patient's hypoxia condition. Although there is no direct evidence that oxygen therapy can affect the prognosis of IPF patients with hypoxemia, indirect evidence from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease shows that long-term oxygen therapy can significantly improve the prognosis of patients. It is recommended that IPF patients with resting hypoxemia (PaO2 <55 mmHg or SpO2 <88%) should receive long-term oxygen therapy in accordance with the indications for oxygen therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

2. Mechanical ventilation: Most patients with IPF and respiratory failure do not receive endotracheal intubation or mechanical ventilation. Doctors should weigh the pros and cons and communicate fully with patients and their families. Mechanical ventilation may be a bridge between lung transplantation and renal cell carcinoma in a very small number of patients with IPF. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation may improve hypoxia and prolong survival in some IPF patients. For patients with end-stage pulmonary fibrosis and poor prognosis, endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation are generally not recommended.

3. Pulmonary rehabilitation: Pulmonary rehabilitation is a comprehensive intervention treatment for chronic lung disease patients with symptoms and decreased ability to perform daily activities. It aims to alleviate symptoms, improve body function, stabilize or delay disease progression, and thus reduce medical costs. Pulmonary rehabilitation includes respiratory physiology therapy, muscle training (whole-body exercise and respiratory muscle training), nutritional support, psychotherapy and education. Pulmonary rehabilitation has been used to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory dysfunction. Although research on pulmonary rehabilitation treatment for IPF patients is limited, most IPF patients can be recommended to receive pulmonary rehabilitation treatment. The indications and prescriptions for pulmonary rehabilitation in IPF patients, as well as the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on patients' lung pathophysiology, quality of life and prognosis deserve further study.

4. Lung transplantation: The continuously evolving lung transplantation technology has become the main treatment for various end-stage lung diseases. Lung transplantation can improve the survival rate and quality of life of IPF patients, with a 5-year survival rate of 50%-56%. Many medical institutions in China have carried out lung transplantation. The gradual improvement of the donor donation and resource sharing network, and the establishment and improvement of the organ transplantation access system have made it possible to screen IPF patients and register and follow up those waiting for lung transplantation. It is recommended that IPF patients who meet the indications for lung transplantation be included in the waiting list for pre-transplantation evaluation. The timing of lung transplantation for IPF and the impact of single or double lung transplantation on the prognosis of IPF patients need further study.