<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

My question was:  
"In the Beyond Celiac newsletter, Alice Bast writes of a recent experience, and in this she states: “Because of I have celiac disease, I am at a higher risk for pneumonia. Really? I did not know this. Does anyone else have knowledge of this?"

The general consensus from everyone is that yes, those with Celiac Disease are at slightly higher risk for pneumonia. Thanks to Stephanie for sending the links to research that names spleen damage in many Celiacs.

Thanks to all for this interesting info.
CurtissAnn

I copy and paste a few of the interesting replies below:

>>I believe that those who their Dx who get a timely diagnosis that limited to damage that cam heal over time do better than those who don't.  Common sense also says to take advantage of preventative treatments, flu and pneumonia vaccinations.  

Typically,  celiac is an overactive immune system response which protects us from a lot of the everyday stuff. My 2 sons and I have been GF for 30 years we are typically the healthiest.  And if we do catch something, symptoms are usually milder & duration shorter.

While 1 in 200 individuals suffer from IgA deficiency, it's more common in those with celiac.   IgA antibodies are produced in mucous membranes--GI and respiratory systems, and are the immune system's first line of defense against inhaled and ingested pathogens.  

The celiacs who seem to catch everything should have Total IgA measured, if not  done previously.  There's not such that can be done to remedy IgA Deficiency,  but knowing you have it can allow you to avoid risky situations, and failing that, start treating symptoms before they become severe.


>>I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2005 and have been gluten free since then. I also have five other autoimmune diseases, all of which are serious but stable. 
This February we were coming home on a cruise ship. The last two days I got sick with fever, cough and general malaise. Though I visited the ship's doctor, she didn't feel I had pneumonia or bronchitis. The day we got off the ship we went home and I slept all day. I told my husband that we would go to our doctor even though it would be Sunday. The PA was in that day. As soon as she finished her examination she told me that she was pretty certain I had pneumonia and I needed to go to the hospital. The ambulance took me to the ER of the hospital of my choice. After examinations, blood work and X-rays I was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs. A very astute infectious disease specialist sent my mucus specimen to another hospital with a specialized lab. The results showed that I had Influenza A as well. I spent the next six days in isolation. The protocol was two antibiotics intravenously, three cough medications and two different nebulizer treatments. All the doctors would tell me I was a "very sick woman".
It took all this time for me to recover. The follow up X-ray showed both lungs were clear but there was some scarring that was expected after pneumonia. I was devastated but my doctor told me not to worry and get on with my life which I have. 
However, I visited my hematologist (not to be confused with my Hepatologist). Both doctors treat me for autoimmune diseases. He told me that since I had pneumonia we would need to monitor for blood clots. Oh joy!! Not!! He too said go on with my life, not to stop taking one baby aspirin daily and he would see me in 2 months, a bit earlier than usual. 

I know this is a long story but were you told to be concerned about blood clots in the lungs as a result of pneumonia? 
I had both pneumonia injections last year and faithfully get a flu each year. I know mine is a crazy sounding story but really happened and I know how sick I was. Not any of the doctors told me I would be prone to pneumonia recurrences. 


>>1)            From the UK https://www.coeliac.org.uk/coeliac-disease/medications-and-vaccinations/vaccinations/ <https://www.coeliac.org.uk/coeliac-disease/medications-and-vaccinations/vaccinations/>
Some people with coeliac disease are ‘hyposplenic’ (meaning they have a spleen which does not function very well). This potentially puts them at risk of pneumococcal infections. Those people who are known to be hyposplenic should receive the pneumococcal vaccine and also vaccines against meningitis C and flu.
The Department of Health <https://www.coeliac.org.uk/glossary/the-department-of-health?destination=/coeliac-disease/medications-and-vaccinations/vaccinations/> has not made a universal recommendation to vaccinate everyone with coeliac disease, but rather recommends that clinical assessments are made on an individual basis.
However, based on advice from our Health Advisory Council <https://www.coeliac.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/our-advisers/>, we recommend that everyone with coeliac disease is vaccinated against pneumococcal infection, as there is a potential for people with coeliac disease to develop overwhelming pneumococcal sepsis due to hyposplenism.
 
2)            From a 2008 NIH study  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18679063 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18679063>
CONCLUSION: Some patients with coeliac disease have an elevated risk of invasive pneumococcal disease.
 
3)            From a newer study quoted in RT (Respiratory Therapy) Magazine at http://www.rtmagazine.com/2015/09/celiac-disease-linked-increased-pneumonia-risk/ <http://www.rtmagazine.com/2015/09/celiac-disease-linked-increased-pneumonia-risk/>
The study found that people with celiac disease who are unvaccinated against pneumococcus are about 30% more likely to develop community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) than are unvaccinated people without celiac disease, according to a Celiac.com <http://celiac.com/>news report.
The risk for CAP was highest among patients with celiac disease the closer they were to the time of diagnosis but remained elevated for more than 5 years, according to the researchers. The elevated risk was not seen in vaccinated celiac patients or in people over 65 years of age.
A team that included Joe West, MD, of the University of Nottingham, conducted the study. West explains that the increased risk is likely due to weakened spleen function in people with celiac disease.



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