A 35-year-old member asked:
why are some people with pneumonia at risk for cachexia?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Martin Raff answered
Infectious Disease 56 years experience
Cytokines: Chemical substances released from inflammatory cells have a tendency to suppress appetite. It should not result in cachexia unless this is a very chronic and long-standing severe pneumonia. Strongly suggest looking for other reasons.
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Dr. Michael Depietro answered
Pulmonary Critical Care 35 years experience
Its the reverse: Cachexia is a sign of either nutritional deficiency or severe chronic underlying disease which releases inflammatory compounds that cause loss of muscle tissue and body mass. A large number of diseases do this, like cancer and advanced heart disease. This condition will lower the ability to fight infection and increase the risk of all infections including pneumonia.
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Last updated Mar 19, 2014
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