Is Pulmonary Fibrosis A Genetic Disease?

Posted on Sat, 5 Jan 2013

Question: My father died of pulminary fibrosis. Can it be genetic? I now have pneumonia & am
being actively treated. Should be fine, but wonder if it could be a concern later. I had
sugery for a puntured lung in 1967. No other health issues- never smoked/ dad did
early in life, but quit.

Answered by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (29 minutes later)

Hi,
Thanks for posting the query on XXXXXXX
After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:

1. Pulmonary fibrosis is usually not genetic or familial.

2. You had surgery for a punctured lung. If you could elaborate on this then I can comment in more detail. Was a tube put in chest? what type of surgery was done?

3. Pneumonia is a respiratory infection and need not be worried about as it will subside on treatment.

4. If there is no other lesion at present then no need to worry.

5. I would however be interested in the details of your illness in 1967. And what was the etiology of punctured lung?

6. As a precaution after the current episode of pneumonia subsides, you can go in for yearly flu vaccine and 5 yearly pneumococcal vaccine.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar