Farmer's lung medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shaik Aisha sultana, [2]

There is no specific treatment available for Farmer’s lung disease. First step in treatment is avoiding the offending agent and if patient has severe dyspnea, advise oxygen therapy and bed rest.

• For people suffering from acute attacks of Farmer’s Lung, the first step in treatment is to avoid further contact with moldy dust.
• For serious cases, bed rest is recommended and oxygen therapy may be needed to treat dyspnea.
• Certain medications provide relief from an allergic response during acute attacks and make breathing easier.
• The long-term use of these drugs is not advisable since they can hide the symptoms of Farmer’s Lung without preventing lung damage from re-exposure to moldy dust.
• No cure exists for people who become hypersensitive to moldy dust. Once people become hypersensitive, they remain hypersensitive for years, perhaps for life.
• Steroids can be given to treat the hypersensitivity in severe cases.^[1]
• Prednisolone– 1mg/kg for 7-14 days, gradually tapered over 2-4 weeks, can be helpful in severe cases.