Can infection fro handling pigs cause haemophila parainfulenza?
Patient: Hi, my husband has just been diagnosed with haemophilas parainfluenzae. He also suffers low white cells of 3.01 being his recent reading. He works in a pig factory and is in contact with pigs blood on a daily basis, is it possible that he got this from the pigs? Doctor: Hello,It is unlikely that the haemophilus parainfluenza infection your husband has is directly related to his job at the pig factory.  This bacteria often lives in our bodies without causing infection, but can cause pneumonia, upper respiratory infections and even heart infections.  You mentioned that your husband's white blood cell count is low, this bacteria is thought to be especially active when the general immune system is compromised so it could be something else led him to get sick with this.  There is also a chance that the haemophilus parainfluenzae was reported on a sample but is not causing his underlying symptoms, since as I mentioned it is a normal component of some parts of our bodies.  I hope I answered your query, please let me know if I can be of further assistance,Dr. Patel