Treatment

Silicosis

As always prevention is the best way to fight Silicosis. Exposed workers should have chest x-ray's every 6 months for sandblasters, and every 2-5 years for other exposed workers.

The only effective treatment known is lung transplantation. If the patient is suffering from airway obstruction this should be treated as chronic. If tested positive for tuberculin testing, but negative for sputum TB cultures should be given isoniazid for 1 year or more. Several researchers believe that those treated for active pulmonary TB should have isoniazid prophylaxis treatment for life. Those victims suffering from silicosis and active pulmonary TB should have mulitdrup therapy within 3-6 months.