Can pneumonia be fatal in people with advanced AIDS?

Question

So my dad contracted HIV around 8 or 9 years ago. He also has Hepatitis C and is currently on the liver transplant list. Also he has a really bad mouth infection due to years of methamphetamine abuse. Yes, both he and I understand that he made some bad decisions and is paying for them dearly. He is currently under my care and I'm trying my best to care for him under the circumstances.

Anyway, he still smokes despite having part of his left lung removed two years ago due to cancer. Within the last few weeks he has developed a case of double pneumonia (according to my sister, who is a RN) and I'm afraid that he may be on his deathbed. We cannot afford hospice due to the fact the we let his insurance lapse around a month ago. We simply ran out of funds.

Anyway, I'm afraid he may be on his last legs. He is already weak enough, could this pneumonia be the final straw? We would appreciate your prayers. Thank you.

Answer 1

well, actually pneumonia can be fatal in anybody. i've had a strep pneumonia that nearly killed me. unfortunately, due to their immunocompromised status, AIDS patients often succumb to pneumonia that a generally healthy person would be able to fight off. i'm so sorry, dear. pray for your dad. i will too.

Answer 2

I'm sorry your dad is so sick. I'm really surprised he is on any transplant list due to a number of things that would disqualify him in my opinion. They are really hard to get if drug/alcohol abuse caused the problem. Sobriety for the rest of their life is a must. Having HIV would be a huge problem for anyone needing a transplant since they must be on anti rejection drugs the rest of their life which also greatly lowers the immnune system. It would be just too much on a person and on top of that he has hep C which never goes away and can attack the new liver. With all this going on, I just cannot imagine any transplant center accepting him.



I had an autoimmune disease and had to get a transplant. I also smoked when I went for my evaluation to get a transplant. The first thing the transplant coordinator told me was, "We don't give transplants to smokers." The doctors told me I had no choice other than to quit which I did. I would not have gotten one if I didn't. You say your father also has no insurance now. Who is going to pay for this transplant since they cost about $300,000 if everything goes well? They never give them for free so if he has no insurance, there is no chance of getting one unless he is super rich. Lungs have to be healthy and everyone needing a transplant has to pass the lung function tests in order to be accepted. Your father would never pass one with his history and current problems. I don't believe anyone told your father that he has been accepted to receive a transplant based on what you have said here. He would never qualify for quite a number of reasons. They are very strict about who they accept. You have to be sick enough to need the transplant, but yet healthy enough to survive it. Your father is just not healthy enough to survive it.



It sounds like your father is a very sick man and it would not be unusual with all his health problems to develop pneumonia which very well could be the thing that takes his life. Just continue to do your best in taking care of him or when that gets too much you might want to look into putting him somewhere in which he will get 24 hour care. If he is low income and doesn't have a lot, then there is some kind of insurance that will cover him since he is definitely disabled and would qualify for something whether it be SSI or SSD. Those insurances are not something that lapses if you don't pay. Go to the social security office and apply for him. Getting back to your original question, yes, people with AIDS can definitely die from pneumonia. I think it just a matter of time for your father and it's just a matter of making him as comfortable as possible till it's over. It's very stressful and hard being a caregiver like you are doing. I hope you have people helping you so that you don't get too worn down from it too. I have seen many caregivers become sick because it's just too much for them to handle when things get really bad. You need people to help you and if they can't, then it might be best to put your father in a nursing home till it's over. That way he can get all his medical needs met 24/7 and you can spend quality time with him visiting as much as you like. I think it might make things easier on everyone. I will definitely say a prayer for you and your whole family.

Answer 3

Yes. It can also be fatal in people with Swine Flu. In fact, it is often pneumonia that kills people who have the virus, and not the virus itself.



Full blown AIDS destroys the immune system. Someone with AIDS can die from something as simple as a fungal infection, or Cryptosporidiosis.

Answer 4

Pneumonia is the name for water in the lungs and it has many causes. It has been called "the old man's friend" as it brings final relief from suffering to many. You have the best wishes of all the Yahoo Answers community at this time.

Answer 5

if your dad ever worked in his life hospice is a right to all people. That is what some of those taxes are we pay. You should check into it further they are great in hospice. Pneumonia can be fatal in people without Aids.

Answer 6

Yes, pneumonia can be fatal in people with advanced AIDS.



It sucks, but it sounds like he's on his way out.

Answer 7

Pneumonia can be fatal even to people who don't have HIV or AIDS.



He may or may not recover, but it doesn't look good, with his other illnesses.

Answer 8

Yes, of course. Pneumonia is not joke and with someone who has a terrible immune system,

it could be very serious.

Answer 9

Any disease can be fatal in advanced AIDS. Their immune systems are severly compromised and even with antibiotics they can't fight it off.



retired nurse.

Answer 10

Yes it is fatal for people with aids to get any disease.