Could asthma or allergies increase my risk of pneumonia?
Q. Can having asthma or allergies put you at greater risk of getting pneumonia?
A. If by allergies, you mean having a stuffed nose or runny nose with or without itchy eyes, then the risk of getting pneumonia is not higher than someone who doesn't have allergies.
Asthma is a different story. People with asthma are more likely to develop a lung infection. The problem is not so much that a person with asthma is prone to pick up a virus or bacteria. The worry is that a simple infection could set off a bad asthma flare. This could cause more mucus production. The excess mucus can plug one or more of the bronchial tubes. Because the bronchial tube cannot get clear, it is easier for an infection to settle in behind the mucus plug.
Some people with severe allergies or asthma need to regularly take medicine to dampen the immune response. These medications, such as prednisone and biological therapies, make a person more vulnerable to infections, including pneumonia.
People with asthma should get a yearly flu shot. Most experts also recommend a pneumonia shot.
The pneumonia shot helps prevent the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia, called pneumococcal pneumonia. However, there are many other germs that can cause pneumonia.
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About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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