What are the treatment options for flint disease?

Although medical science has not yet found a cure for flint disease, several treatments may help improve your quality of life. The first step in treating flint disease is to eliminate exposure to stone dust. A lung lavage (washing), in which the lungs are flushed with saline solution to remove invading particles, can benefit you. A number of drugs, some with severe side effects, are available to treat flint disease, including bronchodilators (medications also used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma), corticosteroids, azathioprine, acetylcysteine, and anti-fibrotics. Your doctor will determine which drugs are most appropriate for you. They may also prescribe oxygen therapy, which can improve breathing but cannot halt lung damage, or pulmonary rehabilitation, which helps you to manage your flint disease through exercise and breathing techniques. As a final option, your doctor may recommend a lung transplant.