Upper Resp. Infection

[greco02]

Jim has been sick with a cold for 2 weeks.  He kept thinking he was getting better and didn't want to go the doctor.  Well, yesterday it moved to his ears so he has an appt today.   

Someone I know whose Mom is on dialysis and has had ESRF for quite a while told me that her years ago when her Mom was newly diagnosed she got a Upper Resp Infection and she ended up with her kidneys taking a hit and her kidney disease progressed quite quickly due to the infection.

Can anyone elaborate on this issue for me?  I do plan on asking Jim's PCP about this today.  Jim's doctor has the inherited type of kidney disease and has rec'd a transplant so he knows quite a bit about ESRF and transplants.

thanks....czg

[pamster42000]

It's been my experince that when someone  has a chronic health condition and  gets an infection or symptoms of not feeling well of any kind they should go to the Dr. right away and get treatment. It seems to make matters worse going untreated.

Watch the white blood count in the blood test values...if the numbers start rising this means there is something going on. 

[ceejster]

My mother has had trouble like that before...getting sick in one part of her body and it has migrated to the kidneys, I think the reasoning was that whatever bug it was normally wouldn't lodge itself in the kidneys, but because hers were weak, it was able to get a hold there? I thiiink it was strep with her. Second what pamster said to just be extra vigilant and make sure he gets treatment/med attention before anything gets a chance to become a big problem, whether because the bug moves or just because his being generally ill impacts his kidneys.

[greco02]

Jim's doctor put him on antibiotics and ear drops.  His pcp is a Kidney Transplant recipient so I posed the question to him about waiting to 'get over' something before finally coming in to see him.   Dr. F confirmed what I heard here and from my friend.  Get there sooner rather than later.   Thanks everyone.