Since as yet doctors don't know what causes acute interstitial pneumonia it is near impossible to say who or when it will affect someone. People get colds with cough or pneumonia all the time, but the vast majority of those will not experience acute interstitial pneumonia. Colds and pneumonia are both transmissible, but again most will fight those off as normal. The really frustrating part of this disease is that it seems to attack otherwise healthy people.
If your son's symptoms have been gradual in onset and severity then there is likely no concern. But if they seemed to have come on rather suddenly with no warning, then I would be concerned.
Certainly, if your son's symptoms worsen take him back to your doctor or ER and keep checking up with an x-ray so long as the symptoms keep worsening. The fever should dissipate within two or three days. If it remains high for longer, then he definitely needs to be seen again.
There is some research that suggests that there is a familial link. While this article is somewhat technical, and doesn't address acute interstitial pneumonia directly, it might be of help...
It's not surprising that you might be somewhat paranoid since your son became sick so shortly after the death of your brother-in-law's fiance, particularly if your son was exposed to her when she was sick. But that is no guarantee that he's going come down with it too.
Did they run anymore tests, blood tests, saliva tests or anything? Did the results come back?
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Since as yet doctors don't know what causes acute interstitial pneumonia it is near impossible to say who or when it will affect someone. People get colds with cough or pneumonia all the time, but the vast majority of those will not experience acute interstitial pneumonia. Colds and pneumonia are both transmissible, but again most will fight those off as normal. The really frustrating part of this disease is that it seems to attack otherwise healthy people.
If your son's symptoms have been gradual in onset and severity then there is likely no concern. But if they seemed to have come on rather suddenly with no warning, then I would be concerned.
Certainly, if your son's symptoms worsen take him back to your doctor or ER and keep checking up with an x-ray so long as the symptoms keep worsening. The fever should dissipate within two or three days. If it remains high for longer, then he definitely needs to be seen again.
There is some research that suggests that there is a familial link. While this article is somewhat technical, and doesn't address acute interstitial pneumonia directly, it might be of help...
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/reprint/200408-1104OCv1.pdf
It's not surprising that you might be somewhat paranoid since your son became sick so shortly after the death of your brother-in-law's fiance, particularly if your son was exposed to her when she was sick. But that is no guarantee that he's going come down with it too.
Did they run anymore tests, blood tests, saliva tests or anything? Did the results come back?
Don't know if that helps at all.
Darlene
October 12, 2010 - 1:27pmThis Comment
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