I am 29, female, with sickle cell. How to prevent pneumonia?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I read your query and understand your concern.

I do understand that you have been dealing with sickle cell disease and a recent episode of pneumonia. I can imagine that was a painful and concerning experience. We are here to support you and help answer your questions.

You mentioned several things, and I would like to address them specifically.

1) Is the pneumococcal vaccine from your teenage years still effective, or do you need a booster?

Regarding the vaccination, the doses and effectiveness are based on how many you have had already and what type of vaccines you have had. Kindly provide the following information:

• How many pneumococcal vaccines have you had?

• What were the vaccine names?

• When did you receive the vaccines?

• How many meningococcal vaccines have you had?

• What were the vaccine names?

• When did you receive the vaccines?

2) You have been feeling weak since discharge, and your breathing has not returned to your normal levels.

• Regarding your shortness of breath and weakness, we recommend that you see your nearest healthcare provider today.

• Ongoing difficulty breathing may indicate returning pneumonia or possibly another issue, like a blood clot in the lungs (this is less likely, but it is important to rule it out).

• Sometimes, people feel worse after leaving the hospital or take time to recover (post-hospital syndrome).

• I recommend you be seen in person so someone can listen to your breathing and check your oxygen levels.

3) You are concerned about the possibility of future infections.

• You should discuss with your doctor whether it is safe to use Hydroxyurea, as this has been shown to reduce the risk of recurrent pneumococcal pneumonia episodes.

• You will need to get your annual flu shot. Depending on how many meningococcal (meningitis) vaccines you have had already, you may need more.

• If you do have recurrent infections, your spleen function must be evaluated. In some cases, surgery may be considered, though this is usually a later step.

4) You would like to protect yourself from getting sick again as you plan to travel.

• Please wear facemasks and wash your hands often with soap and water.

• You should at least use hand sanitizer as long as your hands do not look dirty. Any visible dirt requires soap and water.

• Also, discuss the use of Hydroxyurea with your doctor before travel.

The probable cause in your case is pneumococcal pneumonia. You need to get an in-person evaluation or examination of breathing and oxygen levels, and rule out other complications.

The differential diagnosis in your case includes acute chest infection, pulmonary embolism, pneumococcal pneumonia, and non-pneumococcal respiratory infection.

The probable diagnosis is pneumococcal pneumonia, after ruling out refractory or recurrent infection.

You must take certain preventive measures like:

• An annual flu vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine (based on your vaccine record), and meningococcal vaccine (as indicated based on your full vaccine record).
• Hand washing with soap and water or hand sanitizer.
• Wearing a facemask around those who are ill or when around many people.
• Hydroxyurea may be required if your doctor believes you are having sickle cell problems often enough for it to benefit you.

Follow up two days after being evaluated for your breathing and oxygen levels.Please respond if you have additional questions or would like more information about this.

I hope this answers your query.

Thank you.