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What Causes Recurrent Pneumonia?

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Posted on Tue, 28 Jun 2016
Question: My name is XXXXXXX I have an auto-immune condition called masto-cytosis, which is rare. Although I was once extremely healthy, the past 20 years my health seems increasingly less resistant to disease. I am currently 64. In May of 2015 I went through a multi-months long period of severe fatigue. 4 months later I developed a cough, and could barely breathe. I was diagnosed with sever pneumonia. Several rounds of medication finally seemed to resolve 99% of it, as I was still extremely tired. It reoccurred again last December, so I again was on multiple rounds of medication, the last being Levoflexin (or something like that). This past month I again developed pneumonia and was quickly prescribed Levoflexin again. After 10 days it resolved probably 95%. A second script was added which I took for another 2 days, but am wary to take any longer because my liver was previously damaged, and today I have problems thinking talking walking lifting; my arm and leg muscles have been in terrible pain. I have asked my doctor about this, and she tends to brush it off, so was wondering if this is natural and how long it may take this time to get back to good health. Also how do I avoid getting pneumonia? I work in a lab in downtown XXXXXXX
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Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (56 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Get done annual influenza vaccine and five yearly pneumococcal vaccine.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Recurrent pneumonia suggests poor lung immunity.
This can be due to either poor lung defense or due to auto immune disease you are having.
It is advisable to take adult respiratory vaccines like influenza and pneumococcal.
Influenza vaccine prevents recurrent viral infection and it should be taken annually (once a year).
Pneumococcal vaccine prevents bacterial pneumonia and it should be taken five yearly.
So consult pulmonologist and discuss about these vaccines.
Please let me know
1. Do you smoke?
2. Which drugs you are taking for auto immune disease?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Drkaushal85

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 15005 Questions

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What Causes Recurrent Pneumonia?

Brief Answer: Get done annual influenza vaccine and five yearly pneumococcal vaccine. Detailed Answer: Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. Recurrent pneumonia suggests poor lung immunity. This can be due to either poor lung defense or due to auto immune disease you are having. It is advisable to take adult respiratory vaccines like influenza and pneumococcal. Influenza vaccine prevents recurrent viral infection and it should be taken annually (once a year). Pneumococcal vaccine prevents bacterial pneumonia and it should be taken five yearly. So consult pulmonologist and discuss about these vaccines. Please let me know 1. Do you smoke? 2. Which drugs you are taking for auto immune disease? Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.