What treatment is commonly used for interstitial lung disease?

Oxygen therapy is a common treatment for interstitial lung disease (ILD) because it helps alleviate the symptoms of hypoxemia, which is often present in patients with this condition. ILD can lead to a decrease in the lungs' ability to transfer oxygen to the bloodstream due to inflammation or scarring in the lung tissue. Administering supplemental oxygen can improve the patient's oxygen saturation levels and enhance overall quality of life, allowing them to perform daily activities with less breathlessness.

While bronchodilator therapy may provide some symptomatic relief in conditions like asthma or COPD, it is generally not as effective in treating ILD since obstructions are not the primary issue in this type of lung disease. Antibiotics are indicated for bacterial infections, which may not be the underlying cause of symptoms in ILD, and corticosteroids, while used in some inflammatory conditions and certain types of ILD, are not universally applicable. Therefore, oxygen therapy stands out as a widely accepted treatment to manage the crucial symptom of low blood oxygen levels in patients with interstitial lung disease.