Hamman-Rich syndrome primary prevention

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Chandrakala Yannam, MD [2]

Overview

There are no sufficient guidelines for the primary prevention of acute interstitial pneumonitis. However, preventing general triggering agents that leads to fibrotic changes in lungs including smoking cessation and vaccination against influenza may be helpful in preventing pulmonary fibrosis and other idiopathic fibrotic lung conditions

Primary Prevention

There are several ways to prevent idiopathic interstitial lung diseases including, pulmonary fibrosis, acute interstitial pneumonitis.
Appropriately treating underlying illnesses (such as AIDS) can decrease a person’s risk of pneumonia.
Smoking cessation is important not only because it helps to minimize lung damage, but also because cigarette smoking interferes with many of the body’s natural defenses against pneumonia.
Vaccinating children against streptococcus pneumoniae has also led to a decreased incidence of these infections in adults because many adults acquire infections from children. A vaccine against streptococcus pneumoniae is also available for adults. ^[1]. Influenza vaccines should be given yearly to the same individuals who receive vaccination against streptococcus pneumoniae. In addition, health care workers, nursing home residents, and pregnant women should receive the vaccine.^[2]
When an influenza outbreak is occurring, medications such as amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir, and oseltamivir can help prevent influenza.^[3]^,^[4]

References

↑ Butler JC, Breiman RF, Campbell JF, Lipman HB, Broome CV, Facklam RR. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine efficacy: an evaluation of current recommendations. JAMA 1993;270:1826–1831. PMID 8411526
↑ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 1999;48(RR-4):1–28. PMID 10366138.
↑ Jefferson T, Deeks JJ, Demicheli V, Rivetti D, Rudin M. Amantadine and rimantadine for preventing and treating influenza A in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(3):CD001169. PMID 15266442
↑ Hayden FG, Atmar RL, Schilling M, Johnson C, Poretz D, Paar D, Huson L, Ward P, Mills RG. Use of the selective oral neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir to prevent influenza. N Engl J Med 1999;341:1336–1343PMID 10536125

Overview