Treatment of Farmer's Lung

How Is Farmer’s Lung Treated?

If you suffer from Farmer’s Lung the most important thing that you can do is to avoid the dust that causes the condition in the first place. If you are able to stay away from the irritants then the disease, at least in its early stages, is completely reversible. Once you have become allergic (sensitised) to the dust, you will remain so for the rest of your life, and so avoiding the allergen is critical. That might involve implementing changes in the way that you work, or even where you work, and in some cases might involve a complete change of career.

Sadly, if the condition has a chance to get established – particularly if it reaches its chronic form, there is very little than can be done in terms of treatment for the condition itself, but there are things that can help with some of the symptoms.

Steroid drugs such as Prednisone, Deltasone, Orasone and Meticorten can help to reduce some of the symptoms because they slow down the immune system and can help with reducing inflammation. Unfortunately, as with many high dosage steroid treatments, they come with the risk of side-effects such as thinning of the bones, an increased risk of developing infections, weight gain and abnormal blood sugar levels.

Immune suppressant drugs such as Azathioprine and Mycophenolate can help to suppress the immune system and hence reduce some of the symptoms, without some of the risks associated with steroids, although they do come with their own potential dangers.

Oxygen therapy can help those who struggle to breathe normally. In some cases this therapy can be provided occasionally, such as after exercise, or during sleep, but in more severe situations a sufferer may need oxygen to be permanently available.

Making some changes to your day to day life and routines can have a beneficial effect on some of the symptoms. Ensuring that the humidity within your home is not too high can help with breathing, and avoiding any dusty environments is beneficial. It may be necessary to employ other people to perform certain tasks around the farm if you decide to continue farming. If you continue to work within the potentially dangerous environments you must be sure to use suitable personal protective equipment to reduce the risks of any further dust being inhaled.

Contact us today for free, no obligation advice regarding your Farmer’s Lung claim – either by calling us free on 0800 122 3130, or by requesting a free call back, whereby one of our team will contact you at a time of your choice, to discuss your situation.

We’re here to help – contact us today.