Lung infection and CBC

[anonymous]

Is it possible to still have a normal CBC blood test and have a lung infection? Does anyone else get a really bad, constant headache when they have a lung infection even if they don't have a fever?? Thanks!

 

[JazzysMom]

I have had real bad headaches when my airways are restricted, but I dont necessarily have an infection. I have had bad times with high carbon dioxide in my system & poor O2 saturation. Again this has been when airways are constricted from inflammation, but not infection.

 

[JennifersHope]

I don't always get a fever or an elevated white blood count when I am sick either, it depends on the level of steroids I am on. If you are on some kind of immuno-supress drug.. your body can't react to the infection... therefore no fever or abnormal wbc

Often times though, no fever, no wbc means for me asthma, or airway restriction.... which can make you feel just as bad...

 

[JustDucky]

I have had normal WBC's with infections, but usually it is elevated. When my white count is low, I know I am in trouble. People usually assume that when you get an infection, your white count goes up. Yep, it usually does, but if it is an overwhelming infection and your body is using up its white blood cell reserve faster than it can replace it, then the WBC's drop...that usually means big trouble. I have had that happen once and the docs panic..they think systemic blood infection. Thankfully, it was just my lungs. Okay now I am rambling...LOL!
As far as headaches..YES!!!! I get them everytime I get a lung infection, usually means pneumonia has set in. I also get the sweats alot and of course more yuk than usual. As Jennifer pointed out, those on steroids have an impaired immune systems. I used to be on prednisone and had to watch for even the slightest elevation of temps or changes in how I felt. Some people on prednisone, especially if they are on high doses, have high WBC's to begin with....so, as stated before, you have to really watch and learn the way your body works and when there is trouble.
Hugs, Jenn (the other Jenn)

 

[mare]

many times when I have had a headache with a lung infection it has meant that I also have a sinus infection. When I can get the Doc to listen to me and add another antibiotic like Zithromax it clears up! It is not uncommon to have more than one type of bacteria causing an infection and each one needing a different drug to treat it.

 

[anonymous]

My blood cell counts have always (with the exception of a few times with very severe illness and infection) been "normal", even when my infection is really out of control. I also rarely spike fevers. My lung infection is always hanging around (like a lot of other people's with CF) so I think that maybe my body is just adjusted to it.

I get severe headaches because of chronic sinusitis. Have you had a CT of your sinuses? Perhaps what you are experiencing is sinus headaches. Your fever could also be spiked because of a sinus infection. Maybe have that checked out.

 

[JustDucky]

Oops! As others have said, sinus infections can do that too. I get them occassionally, but they feel different than the headaches I get with pneumonia. My sinus headaches are more pressure like, pretty painful and it hurts to press on my cheeks and above my eyes. It got so bad, the ENT doc had to go in and scrape my sinuses. Interestingly, yeast was the culprit. I also had a lung infection at the same time, I was growing out B. cepacia and Staph...so mare is right, it can be different organisms that require different treatments for each problem. When I get the headaches from my pneumonia alone without sinus issues, usually it feels like my whole head is going to fall off, the pain is pretty global. But, do check it out, with CF'ers sinus issues are common....One thing for sure, everyone is different, I guess it depends on how thier individual immune system responds to infection.
Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">