Why you may have recurrent chest infection

Moses Kayiru is a 31-year old resident of Rwamagana and has had problems with his upper respiratory airways for over 5 years. He says that he has suffered a major chest infection at least every couple months so much so that he is likely to lose his job. “I constantly have to take time off work, it’s so embarrassing, and I feel like an old man but am just 31 years old. Combined with permanently being blocked up (if its not one nostril its the other) I also have asthma so even the smallest of colds can effect me a lot,” he Laments He is always prescribed amoxicillin and steroids, they work after about five days but sure enough give or take a month later continues coughing up yellow phlegm with a chest that feels like its been walked all over by elephants. He has offered many blood samples for blood tests but the arms hurt. All tests normally come out normal and doctors have failed to find anything wrong. Family members and friends think that Kayiru is exaggerating and often try to force him do heavy work but he just wishes they knew how disturbing chest infection feels. At the same time he has to make sure that he offers support to his family, but when he suffers from these infections he barely gets out of bed to go for work. The problem with chest problems is persistent generalized body weakness that makes a person feel constant drowsiness and dizziness from all the various medicines. Some times anti-biotics do help people get out of breath problems with ease. In most cases people cannot eat properly as they lose appetite, get terrible sickness and some times suffer drug side effects. The life of an individual gets affected dramatically and he/she misses so many special events, nights out with friends and families, parties and other social interactions. It is possible for one to get better but the infection is not completely cleared. In 3 to 4 months time the germs may increase in number, enough that one has another respiratory infection. Under stress or low resistance or an immune-compromised state, the immune system may not be able to keep the number of germs low enough, so you have another respiratory infection. Therefore it could be the same pathogen that is flaring up each time. On the other hand it could be that each infection is completely cleared. It is possible that a person gets infected with a new germ each time. To really know the actual problem, one needs to have the pathogen identified during each respiratory infection. One way of having this done is by having the phlegm that you are coughing up from your chest cultured. From the immune test results that we normally mention is the low level of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses 3 and 4. This can happen with common variable immune deficiency. IgG is a part of the immune system that helps a person to fight infections. When the IgG level in the blood is low it can be harder for him to fight infections. Recurring infections are the most common problem with common variable immune deficiency. These commonly include sinus and chest infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. Physical and emotional well being can be improved with regular exercise and sleep. Sometimes people do practice sports but this should be coupled with enough proper rest, so that the immune system is able to function at its best to help you fight infections. Antibiotics will treat bacterial infections but common variable immune deficiency is treated with replacement therapy such as intravenous gamma globulin. This will raise the IgG levels so that one is able to fight infections better. Ends