BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by multifocal diffuse lung involvement. Similarly, COVID-19 has varied multispectral organ involvement. Patients with underlying ILD and coexistent COVID-19 infection may lead to an acute blow to the already deceased lung. CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old man presented with fever and cough with expectoration for the past 4 days associated with breathlessness. He was a smoker and alcoholic for the past 20 years. His saturation was low in room air around 84% and improved to 98% with 10 l/min of nasal oxygen. Further investigation shows acute deterioration of ILD. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection has a spectrum of manifestations. Acute deterioration of ILD is rarely reported in the literature. Etiology should be investigated further.
COVID-19 causing acute deterioration of interstitial lung disease: a case report