Q. My 15-year-old son has duchenne muscular dystrophy. Do you recommend getting a pneumonia vaccine? What conditions warrant a flu or pneumonia vaccine?

A. Muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder with onset in childhood and causes progressive loss of muscle strength, including the muscles used for respiration. Persons with any condition affecting lung function are usually recommended to have such protective vaccines, as the flu and pneumonia illnesses can be serious or life-threatening when the lungs are compromised. Your doctor can guide you as to what would be best for your son. Useage of vaccines may be influenced by medications he is taking such as prednisone.

http://www.mdausa.org/

http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/information/info.html

http://www.parentdmd.org/

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