Brief Answer:
??Suspecting an immunocompromised state

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. In my opinion recurrent infections which are not in one particular location or organ system, then there is most probably an immunocompromised state in the individual.

An immunocompromised individual is vulnerable and prone to infections, and the first place to display symptoms of an infections the lung tissue. In your case, both your lung tissue and your urinary system are being constantly affected.

I would thus like to ask the following questions ma'am:

+Are you on any medications?
+Chemo or radiotherapy?
+Diabetes?
+Any other chronic conditions (e.g. hypertension)?
+Any serious allergies which have to be suppressed?
+Any systemic conditions that at times can themselves cause a lowered immunity or require to be treated with medications to suppress immunity?
+Any organ transplant?
+Any other factors that could be causing an immunocompromised state?

I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you further. Please also feel free to write to me with any other relevant information that could help figure out the cause for your state.

Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
Need to confirm immunosuppression and find cause

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

There are two types of immunosuppression, primary (from birth) or acquired (due to other factors). It would be important to look into the causr and treat it accordingly to help make you feel better.

I would recommend visitng an immunologist or a well experienced GP as diagnosing the cause is usually quite tricky. We will need to rule out causes like:

+Sexually transmitted infections (e.g. AIDS)
+Medications used in the past (e.g. glucocorticoid therapy)
+Cancer
+Sickle cell anemia
+Chronic granulomatous disease
+Trauma
+Congenital deformities
+Spleen related abnormalities

You will indefinetly need a doctor who is experienced in the field to reach the cause to your presentation. But in the meantime, you could discuss the use of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for the treatment of your pneumonia as it has proven to be helpful in treating pneumonia in immunocompromised patients.

I hope and pray you find a good doctor who will reach an accurate diagnosis and treat you to good health. I also hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you ma'am.

Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
It was my pleasure intirely; urine c & s

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

UTIs do not have any fixed drug to treat them with. Each individual has a particular response to any particular drug. This is because the same drug can be effective (person is susceptible to that drug) in one person and ineffective (i.e. the person can be resistant to that drug).

This is why an investigation called a urine culture and sensitivity is conducted. This investigation has the following advantages:

+It confirms the infection
+It confirms the infection-causing organism (which is very helpful)
+Also in this investigation, the urine sample provided is tested against a long list of antibiotics. The response is observed over a duration of 48 hours and reported. Some antibiotics are found to be resistant, whereas the susceptoble ones are observed for their response. Some are mildly effect, some moderate and some very effective.

That being said, only a urine culture and sensitivity examination will help predict which medication would be best to treat your UTI in a suspected immunocompromised state ma'am.

I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please know that I am always here to help you.

Best wishes.

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