Lung Disease Treatments: A Condition-Specific Guide

Treatment depends entirely on the specific diagnosis. Below are mainstay therapies by disease category—always confirm diagnosis (PFTs, imaging, biopsy) before initiating treatment.

1. Asthma

• ICS (inhaled corticosteroids) – controller
• SABA (albuterol) – reliever
• LABA/LAMA add-on
• Leukotriene modifiers, biologics (anti-IgE, anti-IL5/4/13, anti-TSLP) for severe asthma

2. COPD

• Bronchodilators (LAMA ± LABA)
• ICS only if eosinophilic phenotype or exacerbation history
• Pulmonary rehab (gold standard)
• Oxygen if PaO₂ ≤55 mmHg
• Roflumilast (chronic bronchitis), azithromycin (frequent exacerbators)

3. Pneumonia

• Antibiotics targeted to likely pathogen (CAP: macrolide + β-lactam or respiratory fluoroquinolone)
• Supportive: O₂, fluids, antipyretics
• Hospitalize if CURB-65 ≥2 or clinical instability

4. Tuberculosis

• RIPE × 2 months → RH × 4 months (drug-susceptible)
• DOT (directly observed therapy)
• MDR-TB: individualized regimen (bedaquiline, linezolid, etc.)

5. Lung Cancer

• NSCLC: Surgery (early), chemoradiation (locally advanced), targeted therapy (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, KRAS G12C), immunotherapy (PD-1/PD-L1), chemotherapy.
• SCLC: Chemo + immunotherapy (early), chemoradiation (limited stage).

6. Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD)

• IPF: Antifibrotics (nintedanib, pirfenidone)
• CTD-ILD: Immunosuppression (mycophenolate, rituximab)
• Oxygen, rehab, transplant evaluation.