Allergies or something more?

[samylaine]

My son was born when I was just 24 weeks pregnant. He spent 77 days in the NICU 52 of which were on a ventilator, so of course there was quite a bit of scarring of the lung tissue and he stays  sick a little longer than most when he gets an upper respiratory infection. Last year he had pneumonia 5 times between April06 and January 07, then a week long hospital stay in Feb for RSV.... since then they sent him for allergy testing and he scored allergies to just about every type of tree, grass, and mold.... so he is starting allergy shots along with Zyrtec, Singulair. He has been on the FloVent inhaler since march and has done really well with it.
Could all of his upper respiratory issues have been the allergies and the pneumonia just a *symptom* from getting the drainage from everything?

Sammie
www.n8andnoah.com

[samylaine]

thanks for your input!

[National Jewish Health]

It is hard to know for sure, since recurrent pneumonia is common in premature infants as a consequence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).  It is also common for infants who have had respiratory syntactical virus (RSV) to go on to develop asthma.  While possible, it is unlikely that your son’s issues, especially his upper respiratory issues, have been due to allergies.  On the other hand, were excessive mucus production, which you refer to as "the drainage from everything”, the combination of premature lungs associated with impaired mucus clearance could present as pneumonia.  It sounds like he is getting good, comprehensive care, resulting in your son doing very well, and that is terrific.

[samylaine]

hello? anybody?

[samylaine]

I should add he still has a diagnosis of BPD also... (broncho pulmonary dysplasia), and asthma...