Steroids for pneumonia?

Pneumonia is treated with antibiodics and symptomatically. When coupled with COPD or other inflammatory illnesses of the lungs, I have seen steriods given. But not necessarily to treat pneumonia alone.

Have seen it given (in ER) with pneumonia.

I have suffered from pneumonia and asthma. When I have suffered from both, at the same time, I have received steroids in conjuction with treatment for my neumonia. I have never received steroids just for treatment of pneumonia and it is generally not recommended.

Grannynurse

I am reading "The Great Influenza" which describes the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919. It was a unique outbreak of disease in that the people most likely to die from the flu were young, strong, healthy people with good immune systems. The immune system caused great damage to the lungs as it tried to fight off the virus. Patients with weaker immune systems were more likely to survive the flu because they did not experience the same lung damage. It was theorized that giving these young, healthy influenza patients steroids may have helped to save lives during that outbreak. So, using steroids may be of benefit to patients with certain types influenza-related pneumonia. I'm sure anti-viral or anti-biotic therapy would be considered, as well.

I've been given steroids and antibiotics for pneumonia. I think it is pretty much the same rationale for giving steroids to children with croup.

With my daughter's pneumonia and asthma, they couldn't really get it under control well until she started prednisone.

As antibiotics continue to become less effective I can only see more advantages from this group of medications. Have you ever compared the effects of steroids and antibiotics on a wound?

Yes. Steriods have an anti inflammatory response. I see it used more frequently with pts with COPD and also tranplant pts because it has an antirejection property...hence the side effects...lowered immune system (perfect for transplant pts).