Contracting Diseases During Air Travel

Q:  I am a 76-year-old male in reasonably good health, but after returning from plane trips I almost always get ill. In Oct. 1998, I returned from Europe and developed bronchitis shortly after the flight. It was subsequently diagnosed as pneumonia. In Jan. 1999, I returned from a trip to the Caribbean and also developed a severe cough afterwards. In May of 1999, a round trip to N.Y. resulted in another severe cough.

I understand that the air in airplanes is the same air constantly recirculating. Could this be the cause, and if so how can I prevent this for future flights?

A:  I've heard this complaint from other people who travel by air frequently. An airplane certainly is a closed environment with lots of people packed closely together, so exposure to airborne viruses is very possible.

According to a pilot for Southwest Airlines, air from the outside is brought in to the plane so the same stale air is not continuously recirculated for the entire flight. How frequently the air is exchanged may be dependent on the type and age of aircraft.

Nevertheless, I personally have stopped turning on the air vent above my seat (no need to increase my chance of getting someone else's germs). Some people even wear masks. That's not a bad idea for you since you seem to get respiratory illnesses. It's probably a combination of exposure to a virus and perhaps lowered immunity from traveling, time change, and fatigue.

"Dear Doctor" is a compilation of patient questions answered by doctors from the Medical College of Wisconsin.