{"id":28856,"date":"2021-05-08T14:51:22","date_gmt":"2021-05-08T18:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/pediatrics\/?page_id=28856"},"modified":"2021-05-19T09:42:16","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T13:42:16","slug":"rare-and-genetic-lung-disease-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/pediatrics\/pulm\/clinical\/rare-and-genetic-lung-disease-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Rare and Genetic Lung Disease Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nUNC Children\u2019s Hospital is home to a world-class clinical and research program in rare and genetic lung diseases affecting children. Our physicians are helping local pediatricians and families throughout North Carolina and the Southeast evaluate and treat children at risk for these conditions. Managing the care for children with these chronic conditions can be difficult for families. Our physicians and care-team<\/a> specialize in family-centered care that supports and works with families at every step. If your primary care physician or another doctor suspects that your child may have a rare or genetic lung disease or a related condition, you can trust that the UNC Children\u2019s Rare and Genetic Lung Disease team will work to provide your family with an expert diagnosis and treatment plan. This program is the only one of its kind in North Carolina and in the coastal southeastern United States.<\/p>\n

Our Mission<\/h3>\n
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Our goal is to foster innovation and collaboration to identify, understand, and cure rare and interstitial lung disorders by synergizing the strengths of clinicians, scientists, patients, and families along with deploying emerging innovations and technologies to improve the lives of affected children and families in North Carolina and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\nScheduling & Referrals<\/a>\nRGLD Team<\/a>\nSupport the RGLD Program<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

What is a Rare\/Genetic Lung Disease?<\/h2>\n

A rare lung disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Many, but not all, of these diseases are genetic, meaning they are caused by changes in DNA and can be passed down in families; for these conditions, symptoms of disease usually appear very early in life. Other forms of rare lung disease can be caused by infections, severe gastroesophageal reflux, other diseases or their treatments, or environmental exposures and can first occur at any age. While there are many causes of rare lung disease (see Conditions We Treat below<\/a>), most of them end up harming the lung in similar ways: by damaging the air sacs (alveoli) where oxygen exchange occurs, the larger airways (bronchial tubes) which move air into and out of the lungs, or the tissues surrounding these important structures.<\/p>\n

Signs and Symptoms of Rare\/Genetic Lung Disease<\/h2>\n

Each rare lung disease is different, and they can be mild or severe; however, many share these common signs and symptoms:<\/p>\n