I had severe pneumonia and pleurisy about 10 years ago and since then I've had a cough and lingering pleuritic pain. I also tend to get chest infections very easily. Could pnuemonia have caused asthma or is this just the lasting result of scarring?

What is your age? Do you take any meds? Do you smoke? Anyone in your family smoke?

There are many factors left out here.

I'm a 40 year old female, I've never smoked nor lived with smokers. For the past eight months I've been taking Metformin and Spironolactone for low blood sugar and PCOS but nothing before that. I'm overweight but active.

At the time that I had severe pneumonia I was working in the electronics industry and was exposed on a daily basis to smoke and chemicals relative to that industry but left that after a few years and have worked in office environments since then.

Other possible contributing factors...

Carbon Monoxide poisoning twice within the last five years. And exposure from childhood until early 30s to welding, metal working, smelting (lead and zinc), various solvents and pesticides, wood and plaster dust, including some exposure to asbestos. And though these things are not exactly favourable I would not think they'd have a significant effect now.

A "severe pneumonia" could indeed result in permanent scarring in the lungs - and pleurisy can lead to permanent pleural scarring that could possibly prevent the affected lung from aerating (inflating) properly. Both of these could leave you more susceptible to pulmonary infections. Unfortunately, you have a variety of previous exposures that may negatively affect your condition as well. Many of the items you've listed can result in chronic lung diseases such as silicosis, asbestosis, occupational asthma, benign pneumoconiosis, etc. For example, exposure to asbestos can result in the chronic lung disease known as asbestosis - and it has a long latency period, that is - it may take 20 to 30 years after the exposure to develop symptoms. There is a rare and serious cancer - mesothelioma - almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure. You need to be under the regular care of a pulmonologist (lung specialist) and I'd recommend you seek an appointment without delay...