[kitty125]

i have an on going lung condition which at times gives me many upper respertory infections.. when the infections come i am rendered helpless.. shortness of breath, trouble expectorating ,night sweats and chills... plus i am very fatiqued.. once i start antibiotics i seem to get stronger but then its always a relaspe.. the doctor say x-rays are normal cat scan normal,, no aids blood work is good... about 5 years ago they did a scope and found mai isolated in clusters in my left lobe.. more tests sputum cultures after treatments showed no signs of mai
is it possible to have it some where and not find it
i just had a scope don last week i was spitting up yello green and white pus
followed by the sweats chills really bad.. the doctor says i don't need antibiotics but yet these symptoms keep coming back
please help me i am suffering and don't know why... can you refer me to a specialist for this/ i live in florida
thanks

[J_9]

If you have not, I believe it is time to go to a pulmonologist. This is not normal and requires antibiotics, especially if you have yellow or green sputum, these colors signify and infection.

I am wondering if you take your full course of antibiotics or stop when the symptoms are gone. Stopping before the full course of antibiotics is dangerous in that it makes your system immune to those antibiotics in the future.

Please make an appointment or get a referral to a pulmonologist.

[kitty125]

If you have not, I believe it is time to go to a pulmonologist. This is not normal and requires antibiotics, especially if you have yellow or green sputum, these colors signify and infection.

I am wondering if you take your full course of antibiotics or stop when the symptoms are gone. Stopping before the full course of antibiotics is dangerous in that it makes your system immune to those antibiotics in the future.

Please make an appointment or get a referral to a pulmonologist.

I always finish my medications and I do have a plumonologist who says my sickness is a mystery well its no mystery to me... they Just found a streptoccus bacteria in my lung one doctor gave me antibiotics and his parner says I don't need them... he said its normal to have strepticocus in the lungs its like having a swab test done on your mouth.. I think I will go to mayo clinic

[J_9]

There are some streps that are normal to the body, they are what is referred to as normal flora and can be beneficial to us. However, I do think it is time for a second opinion.

I would love to refer you, but I live in Tennessee and don't know any doctors outside of my area.

[bkdaniels]

As a general concideration, disorders of the upper respiratory tract (nose, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, and larynx) are among the most common forms of human illness. In most instances, they result in discomfort which is more annoying and distracting than disabling, and while they may interfere with the indivisual's function sufficiently to prevent participation in normal activities, they are not life-threatening nor do they usually signal or lead to serious chronic disability. Less commonly, more serious disorders may present with symptoms referable to the upper respiratory tract.

A secondary infection is an infection that occurs during or after treatment of another, already existing infection. It may result from the treatment itself or from alterations in the immune system.

For example, the development of bacterial pneumonia following a viral upper respiratory infection. Further treatments may cause your symptoms to get worse, rather than help.

Therefore, your Doctors partner may have done a good things by not prescribing additional antibiotics. Antibiotics may be the cause of your problem.

However, there are other recommendations that I suggest you discuss with your Doctor. First, request that he give you one of the newer tests in biotechnology that has greatly facilitated the diagnosis of viral pneumonias.

Clinicians are able to obtain a virologic diagnosis with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity, often within a few hours of the diagnostic procedure. Among these procedures are Cytologic evaluation, viral culture, Rapid antigen detection, and Gene amplifacation.
(More information on these is available by registering on eMedicine Medical Library.)

Also, a newly identified virus that causes a spectrum of respiratory illness, ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infections to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia called Human Metapnemovirus (HMPV) has been recently discovered according to The American Lung Association. This is the virus suspected when the cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia cases cannot be determined.

Antiviral therapy is available for treatment of influenza virus infection. All viral pneumonia patients must receive supportive care with oxygen, rest, antipyretics, analgesics, nutrition, and close observation so if you feel the need to go to the Emergency Room and admitted into the Hospital for further testing, don't be afraid to do so.

Truly, I believe that you should stick with your current specialist. Ask them for a referral to an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) which may serve you better since you condition is unlikely due to a disorder of the lungs.

Hope this answers your question!

REFERENCE(S)

1. 2006. eMedicine - Pneumonia, Viral : Article by Sat Sharma, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FCCP, DABSM