Clinical Profile and Outcome of Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease Syndrome in a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital: A 10-Year Review (2013–2022)

Abstract Objective: This study described childhood interstitial lung disease (chILD) profiles at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) between 2013 and 2022. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review at PCMC analyzed pediatric interstitial lung disease cases from January 2013 to December 2022. The patients aged 0–18 years with children were included in the study. Those with specific conditions were excluded from the study. Data included clinical course, tests, therapeutic management, and short-term outcomes based on a previous study. Results: Twenty-three patients were included in this study. Most (52.17%) were diagnosed between 2013 and 2017, and were within the ages of 0–2 years. The majority of the patients had normal nutritional status (52.17%). Common clinical presentation on admission included breathing difficulties, with chest retractions, crackles, and hypoxemia. Few had a family history of chronic lung disease. Comorbidities included pulmonary hypertension (30.43%) and pulmonary tuberculosis (21.74%). Chest radiography revealed infiltrates in all cases, and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans showed ground glass opacities in 82.61%. Prednisone was the primary treatment (86.96%). Lung biopsy results (43.48%) were mostly unclassified or nondiagnostic, with lymphoid interstitial pneumonia as the predominant diagnosis (20%). Improvement of signs and symptoms was seen in 39.13% of cases, whereas death occurred in 21.74%. Furthermore, the outcome remained undetermined in as many as 34.78% of cases due to inadequate follow-up. Conclusion: This retrospective study emphasizes chILD’s prevalence in infants under 2 years, with male predominance. Nutritional variations underscore the need for supplementation. Various common signs include crackles, retractions, and hypoxemia, with breathing difficulty as a frequent symptom. The diagnostic process involves imaging and ancillary tests, advocating a systematic approach with noninvasive methods like chest radiograph and HRCT, reserving lung biopsy for inconclusive cases. Corticosteroids, whether used alone or in combination, prove beneficial in managing chILD by suppressing inflammation.