Catching cold all the time

[Memoc]

Good morning ,

Has anyone experienced so many colds /sore throat which need to be treated every single time with antibiotics because of the chest infection? Why so often? I mean every two weeks or so? Thank you !

[Minushabens]

I tend not to get colds so much but I am constantly plagued with chest infections. One possibility (this happens to me a lot) is that in fact, the antibiotics have only 'damped down' the infection, so you feel better for a little while but then it re-emerges. It might be worth asking your GP for a longer course (at least 2 or 3 weeks) to see if that tackles it.

I'd also ask for a sputum sample, just to make sure the ABs you are being given are actually effective against the bugs you have.

Longer-term, if the problem persists, it might be worth asking for some further tests, as repeat infections that your body can't deal with in the normal way, can be a sign of other issues going on in your lungs that might need attention (the sputum sample could, in fact, give clues about that).

[emmasue]

You could try a regular vitamin C, 1000mg. It may take awhile to kick in, but I think it helps. Also, you need to keep on top of your steroids. I find that if I ramp up the steroids at the beginning of a cold, I don't tend to get as bad (except that time I had the flu!). Speak to your GP or asthma nurse to find some way of being more proactive with your care. Don't wait for a cold to turn into an infection. Good luck!

[Memoc in reply to emmasue]

Thank you for your answer , the delicate thing is that I have also duodenal ulcer and antibiotics are one of the irritants .. I need to find a a way somehow to reduce taking them ...

[emmasue in reply to Memoc]

Having frequent chest infections is a sign of uncontrolled asthma. Don't let the health professionals fob you off! I hope you get past this soon.

[Superzob in reply to emmasue]

Vitamin D is better, because the body uses it to make white blood cells; Vit C is an anti-oxidant, so its effect is indirect, though that is helpful in itself. Virtually nobody suffers from scurvy (lack of Vit C), but almost half the UK population has a Vit D deficiency (though the recent sunny weather would have helped).

Also, if you take a lot of antibiotics, you will increase your chance of a viral infection (which most colds are), so I wonder if reducing the antibiotics and increasing the asthma meds might be a better option?

[Memoc in reply to Superzob]

The asthma nurse tried to increase the prednisolone dose but unfortunately didn’t work ..

[Livre]

Good support on this question. My answer is in addition. Your immunity must be down as well, low dhea hormone reduces immunity. Stress ageing and corticosteroid use push it right down or eliminate as in my case.

[Lizzie1956]

Yes! It’s a right royal pia!!!! In the hot summer I was flying - but of damp/rain and germs start to arrive then bam I get it again!!! Now on 2nd ABs! Rubbish isn’t it!!