I am sometime asked both "Can asthma cause pneumonia" and "Can pneumonia cause asthma?"
Can Asthma Cause Pneumonia?
There is an FDA warning that pneumonia may be a potential side effect of some drugs used in asthma treatment. In clinical studies using inhaled steroids for COPD, pneumonia occurred twice as commonly in patients on inhaled steroid/LABA combination compared to patients on LABAs alone. However, a great deal of the pneumonias occurred in patients over the age of 65, and there have not seen similar reportedincreases in pneumonia in patients using inhaled steroids for asthma.
While you need to be mindful of this potential risk, it does not mean you should stop taking your asthma medication.
Can Pneumonia Cause Asthma?
Scientists are beginning to understand the relationship between infections that cause pneumonia and worsening asthma symptoms or the development of asthma. There is a tremendous amount of interest in an atypical bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae that is most commonly responsible for walking pneumonia. Typically, this infection is thought to be self-limited, meaning that symptoms will resolve even if you are not treated with antibiotics. However, there is emerging evidence that this bacteria may contribute to the development of asthma.
More About Antibiotics & Asthma
- Inappropriate use of antibiotics for acute asthma in United States emergency departments
- Does frequent antibiotic use during the first year of life contribute to asthma?
