Pneumonia in dd's fellow dancer- advice?

[I talk to the trees]

A young lady in dd's dance classes was recently injured in an automobile accident (poor kid!) and has been having steroid injections as a result of her injuries. As a complication of the steroids, the girl has developed pneumonia. According to the dance instructor, the girl "has been cleared by a doctor to return to school." This past Sunday, though, the girl attended a company performance, and was coughing, and clearly in some distress, though she did seem to make an attempt at covering some of her coughs.

 

Through a group chat today, the girl revealed that her dr. had put her on a new medication for the pneumonia, though she didn't say what that medication is. Two of the younger company members have come to my dd for information about pneumonia and how it is transmitted. Without knowing the cause of the infection (bacterial, viral, fungal,) and whether or not this new medication is a stronger antibiotic or something else, it was impossible for my daughter to offer anything other than the information that it can be airborne, and is frequently transmitted through coughs and sneezes of an infected person. It is very clear that the owner/instructor has not given the dancers- who spend hours with this girl in a rather small rehearsal space- any information about the situation.

 

My daughter is very concerned about getting sick, and having her grades (she's full time DE at the local CC this semester) suffer, so much so that she skipped Monday's rehearsals because she knew that this girl would be there and would still be coughing. She tried to talk to the studio owner and explain why she was missing class, but all the owner would say was that she had done all that she could do, and that the girl was "cleared to be in school." (Imo, being in school is very different from being involved in an athletic activity which requires physical contact with your teammates.)

 

What should we do? I know this girl has a right to privacy of her medical information, but it would seem to me that the other dancers (and parents) need to be informed of this girl's condition (pneumonia, and not just a common cold), in case they have someone immune-compromised in their family. I would like to ask that she be required to wear a mask until she is no longer coughing. Would that be uneasonable? I guess I just feel like pneumonia is a whole different ballgame than a cold, and that if the younger students are approaching the older ones for information, that there has been a serious lack of communication.

 

What says the hive? We need a solution by Sunday, as dd has rehearsals with the girl that day. I am stressing way too much over this! Ack!

[MotherGoose]

I'm not a doctor. But dh has had pneumonia several times and I have never caught it. I think that pneumonia that develops as a result of lying in a hospital bed is different than the kind that just develops and you catch. Plus my toddler was diagnosed with pneumonia a few weeks ago after a cold went to his chest (pneumonia) instead of his ears (ear infection). I would be inclined to not worry.

 

eta oops she wasn't lying in a bed but had steroid shots, sorry, anyway her immune system was very compromised.

Edited October 20, 2017 by MotherGoose

[TeenagerMom]

If the girl has been cleared for school, she is not contagious.

[maize]

Pneumonia is most often not passed from person to person.

[blondeviolin]

Fungal pneumonia is not likely. I'd also discount viral pneumonia since it is not a slow-and-steady thing. Rather it's fast and furious and you can't hardly get out of bed. I'd imagine it's more bacterial, in which case 24-48 hours of antibiotics would make her non-contagious. It's likely that this type of pneumonia is rarely a concern for those with a typical immune system. The immunocompromised pick up these things easier and systemic steroids can wipe out the immune system somewhat quickly.

 

On the whole, I'd be more inclined to feel for this girl and help in any which way I can. Pneumonia is miserable. And if her immune system is whacked because of steroids, it's going to take some time for her to get over it.

[footballmom]

My oldest DC is recovering from pneumonia.  He's been sick for two weeks and is finally cleared to go to school next week.  Doctor specifically told him no physical activity for 2 weeks.  She also said he most likely is no longer contagious even though he is still coughing quite a bit.  I know my DS isn't the same as this dancer, but I would say that if the dancer was able to produce a doctor's note to the studio owner that she was cleared to dance, that's all she can ask for.  Your DD (and you) will have to decide what she is comfortable with.  I would make sure my child was getting as much extra rest and good nutrition as possible, though, just to be extra sure.

[displace]

People on antibiotics for even 24 hrs are unlikely to spread anything.

[sassenach]

She’s probably going to be coughing for weeks if not months. I highly doubt she’s contagious.

[maize]

Yep, coughs can linger forever.

 

A cough is not an indication of contagiousness. I once had a persistent cough for weeks due to an allergy--I finally tracked down the irritant: my roommate's perfume.

 

I also get exercise induced bronchospams and would cough all day after running a mile.

 

And I have had viral illnesses that left me coughing for several months after the illness was over.

 

The cough indicates that her lungs are irritated, not that she is contagious.

Edited October 20, 2017 by maize

[I talk to the trees]

*deep breath* Ok,gang! Thanks for the reassurance! Dd is super stressed right now, trying to get an early decision application together, AND taking 14 credits at CC, AND finishing up driver ed this month (Why on earth we decided to throw that in this semester,I have no idea!) AND taking 5 dance classes plus being a part of the company. I am also in a bit of a freak out mode, just hoping that this early decision thing is a good idea, and that the estimated family contribution matches what the colege actually gives us... if she gets in...Yikes! (And, doggone it! I'm going to be an empty nester this time next year, and I'm already getting teary about it!)

[Butter]

I've had pneumonia multiple times (yes, my lungs suck).  No one has ever caught it from me.  And the cough lasts for *months.*

[slackermom]

As others have said, this dancer's cough itself is not necessarily a problem for the people around her. Given that she has been undergoing regular care for her medical conditions, I doubt there is higher than normal risk to the other dancers. I would hope that no one is coughing into the faces of others, and that everyone washes their hands normally anyway.

 

My kid had a pneumococcal blood infection at age 2, and has had pneumonia 3 times between ages 7 and 12. The blood infection was pretty bad, and scary, and resulted in the health department making a bunch of calls. I have picked up a bit about what causes the infections; apparently the germs are very common and lots of people are carrying them around without a problem. It seems that the people who develop an infection from it typically have other health issues that create an environment for it to take hold. So, my kid's immune system sucks. The asthma doesn't help.

 

Dh was considered to be at risk of developing pneumonia after he broke 6 ribs, and it hurt like **** to breathe. He had to do a bunch of lung exercises in the hospital and in the weeks after he went home. I think WE wore masks around him for a bit.

[Katy]

Pneumonia just means she had fluid in her lungs, it doesn't tell you the cause OR that the cause may not be infectious at all. Steroids make you retain water by changing the salt balance, and an accident perhaps meant long hours in bed or a chair.  Your lungs need the help of your legs for healthy circulation - your quads contracting when walking support the heart a great deal.  If you don't get up and move every day you can get pneumonia solely from that.

 

This is why when an older person has a fall and fractures a hip or something they are often dead within 6 months - they spend long hours in bed, get pneumonia from not being able to move, and the pneumonia kills them, or weakens them enough that some other condition they already had kills them.

[magnificent_baby]

I would not worry too much. She has a lot of underlying problems to begin with and is likely way more susceptible than others for something to turn into pneumonia. You can't catch it from others, but you can catch whatever caused it. Viruses can still be shed for weeks, but the ability to spread it decreases with time. All that said, I would be annoyed as a parent to have my kid around the coughing. 

[Guest]

I wouldnt worry, the doctor has cleared the patient.

My teen did get viral pnuemonia from an elder, but that person was in need of treatment. It doesn't take close contact...elder was in our home for three hours and they weren't wothin three feet. Always wash hands before eating, wear a mask if not wishing to inhale what is being coughed up.