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Could High ESR Be Due To Recovery From Pneumonia?

Posted on Fri, 27 Dec 2013

Question: My mother has a esr of 103 . She has recently been in ICU after severe pneumonia. She was on life support. Could the high reading be due to this

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Possible Detailed Answer: Yes ESR rises with age and after recovering from pneumonia infection. It may be delayed in aged. Smoking raises ESR.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli

Follow up: Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (19 minutes later)

If she is otherwise feeling generally well ...is the raised esr level most likely to be a result of pneumonia. Why do you think they are sending for CT

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (15 hours later)

Brief Answer: Evaluate the entire pulmonory system Detailed Answer: Hi, A old lady with history of smoking with raised ESR should be evaluated for malignancy. At least I would do that. Good that her general condition appears good and this is probably right time to evaluate.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli

Follow up: Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (1 hour later)

Whilst in ICU my mother had a bronchscoptomy ( forgive the spelling ) and there were no cancerous cells detected. She was also constantly giving blood. Would cancer not have already shown up by now if it were present .

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Bronchoscopy has limited reach Detailed Answer: Hi, Brochoscopy looks only into the bronchus and not the entire lung. I am happy that there are no cancerous cells but we need a complete evaluation till the cancer is found to be negative.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli

Follow up: Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (28 hours later)

Could she have lung cancer?

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer: There is risk involved Detailed Answer: Every person who has a history of smoking will have a risk towards lung cancer or other cancers. Nothing can be definitely said till the time we are sure of no cancer lesions. Each time there is a symptom we need to look for cancer for sure in such people. So all the efforts of the doctor should be to find the cancer lesion.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli