Pneumonia

[Gregg]

QUOTE(DaveF @ Jan 23 2007, 07:07 PM) [snapback]116848[/snapback]

Does your question reveal a certain insecurity

No, fear of needles!

[RHPConsult]

Those of us "of a certain age" are always reminded when we get our "priority" flu shot each October to recall if we need a pneumonia shot, too.

NB: ("Priority" does not mean < 10 years!)


PS: Thanks, Reiddm for posting this useful reminder.

[sandbox]

Pneumonia is called the old man's friend because, left untreated, the sufferer often lapses into a state of reduced consciousness, slipping peacefully away in their sleep, giving a dignified end to a period of often considerable suffering.  

[RHPConsult]

'Tis the season . . .

My father was born in 1875. He was a county doctor in downstate Illinois for 55 years. In the 1930s and 40s I remember him traveling to country villages, towns, and  cities” preaching” to parents on the merits of immunization of their children against communicable disease - notably then, whooping cough, scarlet fever and diphtheria. (Long before measles or polio shots!)

I also remember the community “responsibility” practiced by people for accepting quarantine in their homes when such illnesses befell their families - long before this country was beset by lawyers who argued – and politicians capitulated to – the view that disease was a “civil right” which could not be regulated by civil authority!

I do not ever recall my father becoming ill (with anything) in all his years.
He practiced, and taught his the simplest prophylactic procedure: he washed his hands, and his face and lips, a number of times a day. Interesting, since my daughter has noted that her children’s public school recently sent home a message to parents reminding them to teach their kids to wash their hands after visiting the toilet. I suppose that came as news to some “parents”!

When I became a road warrior a number of years ago, I remember some medical advice that I’ve practiced consistently when moving into an otherwise crisp and clean hotel room: several things therein are never cleaned by the maids and are a great source for ‘exchanging” bacteria from others – the TV remote, the phone(s) handset, the door knobs. It only takes a minute to wipe them reasonably clean. (Only this week I’ve noticed a TV commercial for carrying an “antiseptic” spray to do so when one travels) News travels slowly, sometimes.

[sandbox]

good advice on hotels Dick.
we keep these in our cars
and pack them in our travel bags.

[Gregg]

Dick, one of my first projects (when I worked in Bloomington) was converting the old TB Sanitarium north of Normal into a clinic/health services facility for the County. I wonder if your Dad ever went there to see patients.

[RHPConsult]

Oh my, Gregg, does that ever bring back memories – dormant for decades. The answer to your question is, “Yes, of course.”

But, there’s more.

As a student in the town’s Community High School >60 years ago, “in addition to my other duties” I ran the projection booth for AV accompaniments to school assemblies. I also volunteered to do the same for the patients at that very Sanitarium.

During the temperate months, on Friday nights, I would ride my bike up North Main Street to the edge of town where the place was situated. In the front garden was a billboard-sized sign announcing the facility to visitors. Its back surface was painted bright white. I would set-up the projector in the lobby on rainy nights, or on the porch if it were clear.  The patients would sit on their respective balconies across the front of the building; the staff would sit on the lawn if feasible. And the show would be “On” . . . as soon as it was dark, of course.

I gave them the latest cinematic triumph available . . . in 16mm . . . and only in “living” B&W, of course. Technicolor was something that could be viewed occasionally in a few commercial theaters

(I was not allowed to enter any part of the building but the lobby, such was the anxiety about “TB”.)

I still remember clearly the applause coming from those balconies of the multi-story building when each show was over.

In this era of plasma TV at home and 32 screen movie palaces, it’s pleasant to recall the pleasure those old movies brought to the persons confined to that enterprize in that era.

Simpler times, for sure.

[Gregg]

I actually went inside. But the building was not in use at that time.

[jcarter]

My grandfather was a doctor also, and he always stressed washing hands, and stay away from sick people if you can.
I had pneumonia while on vacation in Costa Rica, and a Canadian traveler told my husband to get back into the city and buy some Tetrex, which was Tetracyclene, and we did(antibiotics are over-the-counter in Costa Rica), and within a week I was OK. We stayed for about a month, so I really didnt ruin our vacation.

I will be getting the shot upon my next visit to our doctor.  

And another interesting new shot that I want to get is the Shingles one.  I had Shingles last year(due to stess when our dog died), and it was nasty. Tho I did get on the viral pills soon, and was spared the nerve pain that some people get afterwards.  You CAN get Shingles twice, my cousin and neigbour did.
And if it hits the optic nerve, that eye will be compromised.
So thats anther one that I will be getting upon the next appointment.
Jane

[RHPConsult]

Also stay away from Bell's Palsy, Jane (and others). This is a good site for "patients" It zapped me at my birthday party about 10 years ago. I felt suddenly uncomfortable, went to the bathroom, looked in the mirror and was sure I had had a stroke.

They recognized what was happening when I arrived in the ER, but suggested that I visit my doc the next day. When I was able to do so, he said he saw 4-5 cases a year.

I didn't like just being a "case". So in my first REAL use of the internet I found 250 Bell's Palsy Forum participants who were experiencing various stage of it RIGHT THEN. I learned immediately what medication was working, what exercises were useful, what NOT to worry about, what to pay attention to . . . the whole 9 yards from people in the same fix as was I.

It's a lineal descendant of chicken pox. Most of the readers of this post have its virus lying quietly in wait near their cranial nerves. Most will never experience it. Those that do are in for quite a surprise.

It lasts about 6 weeks, and then you can whistle again . . . exceptions are a small number – one of my clients, for example, who had to have surgery after 10 years of mild difigurement.

Mysterious stuff, those viruses.

[jcarter]

I wonder if the Shingles vaccination would protect against Bell's Palsy?  

If anyone wants to know anything about Lyme disease, we have tons of info.  The Deer Ticks that carry it, are very prevalent here on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.  It seems to be all over the USA now though.
I was part of a study about 20 years when they were trying to develop a vaccine for it.  Then they abruptly terminated the study, as some of the people(not me thank goodness)developed a similar arthritis to what you get with the Lyme disease, but it never would go away.
The shot they give the dogs is different than the one for humans that they stopped.  The dog one is only about 65% effective.  Thats why people who live around here, de-tick their dogs several times a day.
My husband had Lyme for about a year, oh indeed was he sick with it!   A year of antibiotics and he is fine now.
Still no vaccine for Lyme yet,,,,,,,,,
Jane

[Epaminondas]

QUOTE

The available shots are for bacterial pneumonia (the bad kind), not for Viral Pneumonia (walking pneumonia).

"Walking pneumonia" is a clinical diagnosis, not a specific etiologic diagnosis.  It is most commonly caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacterium that is treatable with antibiotics.  There are other causes of "Walking Pneumonia", as well - bacterial and viral - hence, broad spectrum antibiotics are generally used in treatment.


The current "pneumonia vaccine," Pneumovax II, targets 23 serotyopes of the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium - about 85-90% of the strep pneumoniae that you would otherwise see in clinical practice, including a number of serotypes which demonstrate antibiotic resistance.  Pneumonia, septicemia (particularly in post-splenectomy patients), meningitis, etc. The vaccine saves a lot of lives, but note that it has no efficacy beyond those specific 23 serotypes of one species of bacterium.  For example, the Pneumovax II vaccine has no effect on Mycoplasma pneumonia.

You will find a nice PDF on the Pneumovax II vaccine here:

http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circul...neumovax_pi.pdf

QUOTE

They are good for five years.

Re-vaccination is tailored to the individual patient by the individual physician.  Various recommendations in regard to re-vaccination:

<<Pneumococcal vaccine usually is given only once to each person. Additional injections are not given, except in special cases, because of the possibility of more frequent and more severe side effects.>>

<<Some vaccines remain effective for a lifetime, while others have to be updated after a few years. With the Pneumovax vaccine, one dose is usually enough. However, a booster dose is recommended every five years for people without a spleen, and those with a dysfunctioning spleen, eg sickle cell disease, or chronic kidney disease.>>

<<# Revaccination at 6 years for those people with asplenia, renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, and transplant.
# Revaccination at age 65 for those immunized before age 65.
# USPSTF II in 1996 recommended universal re-immunization at age 75.>>

<< Revaccination

Adults: Routine vaccination of adults with ‘Pneumovax’ II is not recommended because of an increased incidence and seventy of adverse reactions among healthy adults revaccinated with pneumococcal vaccines at intervals under three years. This was probably due to sustained high antibody levels. Also, persons who received the 14-valent vaccine should not be routinely revaccinated with the 23-valent vaccine as increased coverage is modest and duration of protection is not well defined,

Although routine revaccination is not recommended, revaccinaton is recommended for adults with chronic conditions which increase the risk of fatal pneumococcal infection and for those shown to have a rapid decline in pneumococcal antibody levels (eg. patients with nephrotic syndrome, renal failure, or transplant recipients,

Based on clinical study results, revaccination with ‘Pneumovax’ II is recommended for adults at highest risk of fatal pneumococcal infection who were initially vaccinated with ‘Pneumovax (Pneumococcal Vaccine, Polyvalent MSD) four or more years previously without a serious or severe reaction.

In addition, it is recommended that revaccination should be considered for adults at highest risk who received the 23-valent vaccine six or more years previously.

Children: It is recommended that revaccination after three to five years should be considered for children at highest risk for pneumococcal infection (e.g. children with asplenia, sickle cell disease, or nephrotic syndrome) who would be 10 years old or younger at revaccination. Such children should not, however, be revaccinated within three years

Children at highest risk for pneumococcal infection may have lower peak antibody levels and/or more rapid antibody decline than do healthy adults. There is evidence that some of these high-risk children (e.g. asplenic children) benefit from revaccination with vaccine containing antigen 7F, 8, 19F. >>

There is a lot more out there - and the recommendations change all the time.


The better your physician, the better he will tailor revaccination recommendations to your individual medical situation.

Medicine is an Art, you know.

And a Science.

QUOTE

Did that 5 months ago, this time I am going to be successful, tried several times, but after 40 years of smoking it was hard, this time I'm committed to do it!!!!!

Good for you!

I know it is hard, but even if you fail - keep trying!

One note - the tobacco companies have apparently been increasing the amount of nicotine and the amount of puffs per cigarette of late - the resultant product is apparently more addictive than ever.

So if you fail this time - quitting again at a later date may be an even harder row to hoe . . .

Just thought you'd like to know. :-)


To your health!

Epaminondas


http://www.worldpolicy.org/globalrights/ec.../maps-life.html

[jcarter]

Hi Epaminondas,
You have great info, let us know what you think about the Shingles vaccine and if you recommend it.
Thank you,
Jane

[Reiddm]

I want to thank all of you for the valuable information, and wow that Epaminondas, what a wealth of knowledge! They called it walking pneumonia, but they also insisted that I should get the pneumonia shot at the time of discharge from the hospital, the way they said it would be wise to get the shot after I had the pneumonia under control or cleared up, but they were more concerned about the high blood pressure and my pulse rate being over 100 while I was resting in bed, all I can say is it sure feels good to be able to take a DEEP breath again, now I have to see a cardiologist about the heart. But I have to say, YES I HAVE THE BEST WIFE IN THE WORLD, at least in my eyes! I'm sure many of you will argue that you spouse is the greatest! Again thank you!!!!
P.S. I will never smoke again.......

[DaveF]

Epaminondas,

and    

It was very interesting to read that "Walking Pneumonia" can have either bacterial or  viral causes. A past doctor of mine could learn a thing or two from your readings.    Since most doctors do not explain or grudgingly give quick explanations, the misunderstanding must be my fault.  

It sure clears up my long lasting curiosity as to how antibiotics (which don't work on viruses) cured my bout with "Walking Pneumonia" some years ago.  

After reading your post, I will surely leave the frequency of revaccination to my doctor.  

Dave