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Pixiegirl Asked September 2013

Worried about Mom getting pneumonia. How to prevent it?

Veronica91 Sep 2013
The pneumonia shot is only given once and I believe there is a minimum age before you can get it. As mentioned get the flu shot. Pharmacies have it now at no cost if on Medicare but take your card. Coming to drs office shortly. Don't ask me why pharmacies get it first because I don't know. There must be some reason us mere mortals can't know. Be very vigilant about keeping mom out of crowds and keep her home if people at day care are getting sick. Limit visitors if they are sick and make essential people like nurses wear masks. make sure all healthcare people wash hands before seeing Mom. After they leave wipe everything they have touched with antiseptic wipes or spray. Do that for all visitors. if she has her own bathroom so much the better. Anyone who is sick in the family should wear a mask when close to mom. Wash all dishes in very hot water or hot cycle of dishwasher. I am assuming that Mom is very susceptible to chest infections so go to the Dr at the first sign of trouble. Sometimes it is necessary for a patient to be treated with antibiotics all the time. They are often prescribed two weeks on two weeks off. This is only done for very weak individuals who have something like COPD.
To sum up cleanliness, fresh air good diet and limit exposure to extreme cold. Keep the humidity up when running the heating. Wear loose layers of warm clothing in winter. I wear wool ski socks during the day and sleep in sweats or a flannel night gown. If you don't have or can't afford to run a humidifier a pot of water simmering on the cook stove or wood stove helps and others set by the heating vents if you have forced air. If your loved one needs continual oxygen make sure there is a humidifier bottle attached to the concentrator.

pamstegma Sep 2013
It should be noted that vaccination does NOT reduce pneumonia. A meta-analyses shows no decrease in pneumonia incidence as a result of vaccination, however it has been shown to be about 60-70% effective in preventing invasive disease (meningitis, bacteremia) (per Johns Hopkins Univ.) see:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/gec/series/pneumococcal_vaccination.html

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orangeblossom Sep 2013
I am pretty sure the pnuemonia vaccine is given once and lasts several years, so perhaps you might check with your Mom's doctor and ask them to check her chart and tell you if/when she got her last shot for it.
Also, there are several different Flu shots this year (need one every year), covering more than one strain of flu, and one of them is a beefed up version for people over 60. You may want to check on that as well.

1tired Sep 2013
Pneumonia shot?? Extra hand washing? Does she have compromised immunity?

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