5th May 2024

A 63-year-old man with a history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) presents with a sudden onset of worsening dyspnoea and a dry cough over the past week.

A 63-year-old man with a history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) presents with a sudden onset of worsening dyspnoea and a dry cough over the past week. He has no fever and reports no recent travel or sick contacts. His medical history includes hypertension, controlled with amlodipine. A chest high-resolution CT scan shows new bilateral ground-glass opacities superimposed on a background of usual interstitial pneumonia. Laboratory tests reveal no signs of infection or heart failure.

What is the most appropriate initial management for this acute exacerbation?