Is your body's resistance to disease reduced? (Immunocompromised) Let's be aware of this!

Do you sometimes feel like you get sick more often than other people, and that it takes you longer to recover when you do? One reason for this could be that your body's defense system, the immune system, is not working properly. In medicine, we call this condition 'Immunocompromised'. Let's talk about this in simple terms today.

How does a low immune system pose a health risk?

Simply put, being 'Immunocompromised' means that your immune system is weak. This system is unable to fight off germs like viruses, bacteria , and fungi that enter our bodies. This makes you more likely to develop serious infections , which is a major health risk.

Think of it this way: our immune system is like an army protecting a country. When this army is weak, external enemies (germs) can easily enter and cause harm.

The 'Immunocompromised' condition, or immunodeficiency, can occur in two main ways.

What are the causes of decreased immunity?

As we discussed earlier, the reasons for this can be divided into two main categories.

1. Congenital (primary) causes

These are very rare genetic conditions. In these conditions, parts of the immune system may be missing, not working properly, or may be reduced in size. Some examples are:

• Congenital neutropenia syndromes
• Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
• Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
• Common variable immunodeficiency ( CVID )
• Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD)

2. Later (secondary) causes

This is the most common type of infection. It occurs when the immune system is weakened due to other diseases or treatments.

Medical treatment and medications:

• Chemotherapy treatment for cancer
• Radiation therapy
• Steroids such as prednisone
• Immune-suppressing drugs such as methotrexate
• Medications given after organ transplants
• Stem cell transplant

Some long-term diseases:

• Cancer: Especially bone marrow cancer.
• HIV infection: This virus directly attacks the immune system.
• Diabetes: When blood sugar levels are high, the activity of white blood cells that fight germs decreases.
• Graft versus host disease
• Steven-Johnson syndrome

Other reasons:

• Aging: As we age, the number of immune cells produced by the body decreases, increasing the risk of developing diseases.
• Nutritional deficiencies: Deficiency of essential nutrients like zinc, selenium, and vitamin B12.
• Major burns
• Undernutrition

What are the symptoms of a weakened immune system?

Your doctor will let you know if a medication or treatment you're taking is weakening your immune system. But also watch out for these symptoms:

• Frequent infections or illnesses.
• Recurrence of the same infection.
• Infections that do not respond to medication.
• A common cold-like illness can become serious for you (e.g., a cold can turn into severe pneumonia).
• Frequent sinus and lung infections.
• Fever and chills.
• Weight loss.
• Chronic diarrhea.
• In young children, growth retardation .

What should we do to protect ourselves from infections?

Preventing infections is the most important thing for someone with a weakened immune system. You may need to take this precaution for the rest of your life, especially if you have had an organ transplant or have a congenital condition.

Here are some things you can do:

• Take the medicine prescribed by the doctor exactly on time .
• Stay away from people who are sick.
• Avoid going to crowded places as much as possible. If you must go , wear a mask .
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water regularly.
• Drink plenty of clean water .
• Maintain good personal hygiene .
• Avoid cuts and scratches whenever possible.
• Eat only well-cooked foods . Avoid raw or undercooked foods.
• Avoid swimming in potentially contaminated water, such as swimming pools, rivers, and streams.
• Get all your vaccines on time . Talk to your doctor about this.
• Only have safe sex .

With treatment and good health care, most people can live a normal life. But remember, sometimes even a minor infection can be an emergency. So if you feel a little unwell, talk to your doctor right away .