Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: A diagnosis of an ILD primarily relies on a combination of clinical & pathological criteria of numerous factors, such as environmental & occupational exposures, infections, drugs, radiation & genetic predisposition have been concerned in the pathogenesis of these conditions. Asbestosis & other pneumoconiosis & smoking-related ILD are particularly associated to inhalational exposure of environmental agents. Significant progress has been made in recent years in understanding the epidemiology of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) across the world, but the amount of information available is still small compared to other respiratory diseases. Method: Data were collected from Bronchoscopy unit records over that period, which means we included only patients who required a bronchoscopic procedure in order to make a diagnosis, regardless of DPLD classification. Result: A history of relevant occupational or environmental exposure was documented in 25 patients. These included 11 patients (44%) who were exposed to construction dust, 05 patients (20%) who were Pneumonitis (NSIP), surprisingly NSIP was more common in males than in females at 19.4% in males compared to 17.3% in females. The third most common ILD was Occupational lung disease 09 patients (36%). As expected interstitial lung diseases were more common in females compared to males (1.27:1), probably because of higher incidence of associated diseases, like vasculitis and connective tissue diseases in females. The most common diagnosis made was Sarcoidosis. Conclusion: ILDs are heterogeneous group of comparatively unusual diseases, although the prevalence and incidence seem to be increasing in many areas. This epidemiological study, on ILDs, with a thorough & systematic review of diagnoses, emphasizes the importance of ILDs, the relatively low prevalence of IPF when using stringent diagnostic criteria, and it confirms that sarcoidosis is a common entity. Keywords: Epidemiology, ITL & Bronchoscopy.