# Can you get pneumonia from allergies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2007, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-pneumonia-from-allergies/406175 "2007-05-31T10:37:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-pneumonia-from-allergies/406175/1 "2007-05-31T10:37:18Z")
I know. Sounds crazy. Settle a debate with my wife. She claims that if you have allergies you are much more prone to developing pneumonia. I said you either get exposed to the virus or you do not, and develop it or do not- allergies irrespective. You cannot get pneumonia just because you have allergies, and you are no more or less likely to be exposed and develop a full-blown case just because you have allergies. Or, so I believe. What’s the Straight Dope? Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-pneumonia-from-allergies/406175/2 "2007-05-31T13:01:28Z")
IANAD, but: Pneumonia is basically and inflamation of the lungs (the parenchyma, really). Any irritant could cause it. The name is often associated with _Pneumococcus_, but not all pneumonias are pneumococcal. ETA: the pneumococcus (_Streptococcus pneumoniae_) is not a virus but a bacterium ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-pneumonia-from-allergies/406175/3 "2007-05-31T13:13:57Z")
There are bacterial pneumonias. There are viral pneumonias. Sometimes _something_ causes damage to the tissue (a virus, irritant, etc) and the pneumonia occurs secondary to the primary insult. **Cartooniverse** - If I were officiating, I’d award the points to your wife.☹ ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-pneumonia-from-allergies/406175/4 "2007-05-31T13:21:12Z")
My 3-yr-old daughter has allergies (our cat was one trigger), which are severe enough to qualify as asthma, which made her _very ill_ when she caught RSV, which landed her in the hospital, which brought the Respiratory Therapists who whacked on her little back and told me “Gotta keep those lungs clear. Keep her upright in bed, and get her on her feet as soon as you can, or she’ll develop pneumonia.” ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-pneumonia-from-allergies/406175/5 "2007-05-31T13:23:02Z")
I take alergies to mean breathing problems like asthema, and or fluid build up in the sinuses and throat. Anything that reduces the lungs ability to clean out contaminates increases the risk of pneumonia. A weakened immune system will also increase the risk of developing pneumonia. [Web source for the following excerpts.](http://www.navis.gr/medico/medico31.htm) Excerpt:Pneumonia is an inflammation of the working tissue in the lungs. White cells in the lungs occur in a pattern that prevents the alveoli, the air-exchanging part of the lungs, from performing properly. Additional Excerpt:This condition is caused by a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other types of organisms that evade the impressive range of defenses against them in the upper respiratory tract or enter through the mouth, evading the epiglottis [Second web source.](http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/pneumon2/a/pneumo_causes.htm) Aspiration Pneumonia Bacteria within the mouth is harmless when it stays in the mouth. However, when the gag reflex is diminished, bacteria can enter the lungs and cause infection. Opportunistic Pneumonia There are pneumonias which exist and are harmless to people with healthy immune systems. However, when immune systems are vulnerable, due to infection or illness, some pneumonias can become harmful. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-pneumonia-from-allergies/406175/6 "2007-06-01T02:04:06Z")
God I hate it when she’s this right. Think I won’t tell her about this little thread. 😃 Thanks for the info.