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Lung conditions
Asbestosis
This lung disease is caused by asbestos dust, with symptoms (shortness of breath, coughing) usually appearing 10 to 20 years after exposure.
Asthma
Asthma symptoms can include a cough, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness. Learn more about its causes, symptoms and treatment options.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis damages the airways in the lungs, causing them to permanently widen. Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to prevent further damage.
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is a chest infection that affects a child’s ability to breathe freely. It usually appears in children under 12 months old.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the larger airways in your lungs, which causes an ongoing cough. Learn how to reduce the risk of bronchitis.
Chest infection
Common in people of all ages, chest infections can occur alongside a cold or flu. Discover more about its causes, symptoms and treatment options.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for certain long-term lung conditions including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease affecting the lungs and digestive system. Treatments can improve the quality of life for people living with CF.
Emphysema
Emphysema is a progressive lung disease usually caused by cigarette smoking. It causes shortness of breath and coughing.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Learn about the causes and symptoms of, and treatments for, this serious disease.
Pleural effusion
A pleural effusion is an abnormal build-up of fluid around your lungs. It can be caused by many things, from pneumonia to kidney failure.
Pleurisy
Pleurisy occurs when the lining of the lungs become inflamed, most often due to a recent respiratory tract infection.
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax (known as collapsed lung) is a reasonably common condition that occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall.
Respiratory syncytial virus
RSV infects a person's airways and lungs. Learn about the causes, treatment and prevention of RSV, and how to stop the virus from spreading.
Tuberculosis
This highly infectious disease, which mostly affects the lungs, can be spread through coughing, sneezing, speaking or even singing.
Whooping cough
Whooping cough is a contagious bacterial infection and is most serious in babies. Here’s how to spot the symptoms and protect infants.
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Top results
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) information | myVMC
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is an irreversible degenerative lung condition which obstructs airflow. It is a leading cause of death.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Lung conditions - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - Better Health Channel
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the collective term for a number of lung diseases that prevent proper breathing.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
COPD Overview| Lung Foundation Australia
Being told you or someone you love has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can be a very overwhelming and frightening experience.
Read more on Lung Foundation Australia website
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: COPD - myDr.com.au
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term (chronic) condition that affects the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
Read more on myDr website
Lung transplant (lung replacement) information | myVMC
Lung transplant is a surgical procedure in which one or both lungs are replaced with donor lungs. It is used to treat severe lung or pulmonary disease.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease| Lung Foundation Australia
chILD is a broad name for a group of rare lung diseases that can affect infants, children and adolescents.
Read more on Lung Foundation Australia website
Silicosis (lung disease) information | myVMC
Silicosis is a lung disorder caused by inhaling silica dust. Silica dust scars the lung tissue, causing inflammation.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP lung disease) information | myVMC
Coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) is a lung disease affecting miners, much like asbestosis. It is caused by inhalation of microscopic dust particles.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Chronic neonatal lung disease | Sydney Children's Hospitals Network
What is chronic neonatal lung disease? Chronic neonatal lung disease (CNLD) is a general term for persisting respiratory problems in premature babies
Read more on Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | National Centre for Farmer Health
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory illness is a major cause of death in Australia and is more common in farming communities. Read more...
Read more on National Centre for Farmer Health website
Top results
Integrated disease management for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Cochrane
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory (lung), disabling disease which affects a lot of people worldwide and causes millions of deaths every year. People with COPD suffer differing levels of impairment, daily complaints/symptoms and number of exacerbations.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Use of oxygen during activities for people with lung scarring conditions | Cochrane
Should oxygen be used for people with lung scarring conditions, known as interstitial lung disease (ILD), whose oxygen levels drop when they exercise?
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Cochrane
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) describes a chronic lung condition that prevents the air supply from getting to the lungs. Symptoms include breathlessness, coughing, tiredness and frequent chest infection. Worldwide, COPD is a major cause of ill health.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Nebulised morphine for severe interstitial lung disease | Cochrane
Nebulized morphine has been reported to have some beneficial effect on breathlessness and exercise limitation in terminally ill patients with chronic lung disease. Patients with end-stage interstitial lung disease might also benefit from treatment of breathlessness with nebulized morphine. This review evaluates the effectiveness of using nebulized morphine for breathlessness reduction in patients with interstitial lung disease. Only one small randomised controlled trial was identified. This study concluded that low-dose nebulized morphine is of no benefit in the management of exercise-induced dyspnoea and exercise limitations in patients with interstitial lung disease. However, the patients included in this study were relatively mild, and definitive conclusions on the effect of nebulized morphine in the reduction of dyspnoea in end-stage interstitial lung disease requires further work.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Aerosolized diuretics for preterm infants with (or developing) chronic lung disease | Cochrane
There is no evidence of benefit from routine use of inhaled diuretics in preterm babies at risk of chronic lung disease. Lung disease in babies born early (preterm) is often complicated with excess accumulation of water in the lungs. Medications that reduce body water (diuretics) might help the baby recover from lung disease. In theory, giving the diuretic as an inhaled mist (aerosol) could drain water from the lung more than from the rest of the body, which could reduce adverse effects. The review found several small trials of a single type of diuretic (furosemide). A single dose improved lung function, but only temporarily. No information was available about long term outcome.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Pulmonary rehabilitation for interstitial lung disease (ILD) | Cochrane
Review question: We reviewed available evidence on the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on exercise capacity, shortness of breath and quality of life in people with interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Late (after seven days) postnatal corticosteroids for chronic lung disease in preterm infants | Cochrane
Corticosteroids can reduce lung inflammation in newborns with chronic lung disease, but there are major adverse effects of the drugs. Chronic lung disease is a major problem for newborn babies in neonatal intensive care units, and is associated with both a higher death rate and worse long-term outcomes in survivors. Persistent inflammation of the lungs is the most likely cause of chronic lung disease. Corticosteroid drugs have strong anti-inflammatory effects and so have been used either to prevent or treat chronic lung disease, particularly in babies who cannot be weaned from assisted ventilation.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Nutritional supplementation for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Cochrane
Low body weight is common in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It can weaken their heart and lung function, and reduce their ability to exercise. Some degree of malnutrition is common in people with COPD but it is unclear whether this is the cause of their deterioration, or just part of the progress of the disease. This review of 17 studies (632 participants) that provided nutritional supplementation for patients with COPD for more than two weeksfound growing evidence thatnutritional supplementation improvedbody weight, respiratory muscle strength, walking and quality of life.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Methylxanthines for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Cochrane
Methylxanthine drugs such as aminophylline and theophylline are recommended for use in patients who have acute exacerbations (episodes) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, particularly for patients unresponsive to standard therapies. This review identified four studies that compared these drugs with placebo. Over the first 2 hours of treatment there was no evidence that patients improved in terms of lung function, although a possible late benefit was detected. The studies do not give a clear indication of whether there was benefit in terms of reduced symptoms or hospital admissions, but side effects were found to be more common with methylxanthines. We conclude that, given current evidence, methylxanthines should not be used for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (a1PI) for preventing chronic lung disease in preterm infants | Cochrane
There is not enough evidence to show the long term effect of using Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor for chronic lung disease in premature babies. Inflammation of the lungs is one of the causes of chronic lung disease (CLD) in babies born before 37 weeks. Babies with CLD need extra oxygen and the disease can also cause serious long-term problems. Lung damage is caused by the release of enzymes and other anti-oxidants because babies with CLD have a low level of Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (a1P1), a substance that stops lung tissue being destroyed. A medication version of AlP1 is sometimes given to protect their lungs. The review of the trials found that there is not enough evidence to show long term beneficial effects of a1P1. More research is needed.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
