Weak immune condition - Medtick
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Weak immune condition

What is it?

Person with weak immune status are more prone to infections and take longer to recover these include:

  • Elderly
  • Very Young (including prematurity and low birthweight)
  • Pregnant
  • Malnourished
  • Have multi-organ failure
  • Severe Burns and/or wounds
  • Have invasive instruments in their bodies i.e. pacemakers, catheters
  • Too much iron in the body (iron overload or hemochromatosis)
  • Have had recent surgery
  • Medication and treatments:
    • Those who are receiving or have received in the past 6 months of immunosurpressive therapy (including biologics), immunosupressive chemotherapy or radiotherapy for malignant and/or non- malignant disorders or have in the past 12 months recieved immunopsupressive therapy for sold organ transplant.
    • Those who are receiving or have received in the past 12 months of biological therapy (i.e anti-TNF therapy, such as alemtuzumab, ofatumumab, rituximab or similar).
    • Those who have received  or have received in past 2 years Ocrelizumab or similar for multiple sclerosis.
    • Those who are receiving high dose  corticosteroids, until at least 3 months after treatment has stopped inlcuding:
    • Adults and children  on high dose corticosteroids (> 40mg prednisolone per day or 2mg/kg/day in children under 20kg) for more than one week.
    • Adults and children  on a lower dose corticosteroids (> 20mg prednisolone per day or 1mg/kg/day in children under 20kg) for more than 14 days. Similar oral corticosteroids can cause systemic immunosupression.
    • Please note non-systemic corticosteroids (i.e creams, inhalers or eye/ ear drops, suppositries) are not considered as systemic immunosurpression however it could potentially cause immunosurpression and this should be decided by healthcare professional before further treatment.
    • Replacement corticosteroids for persons with adrenal insufficiency is not believed to cause immunosupression.
    • For those taking or have until at least 6 months after termination such treatment of immunosupressant medication i.e methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, sirolimus, apremilast alone or in combination with a low dose corticosteroid.
    • Always speak to a Healthcare Professional regarding the above as this list in not exhaustive.
  • Weak Immune conditions (see examples below)

Heart condition

  • Heart condition (including Angina, Heart attack, stroke, blood pressure,high cholesterol) of any sort?

Blood vessel

Diabetes

Spleen conditions

Respiratory disease

  • Long term respiratory condition and/or use inhalers and/or use steroid medication?

Auto immune disease:

  • Any autoimmune disease (include respiratory) and/or take immune-suppressant medication and/or an organ transplant and/or steroids to maintain immune system (long term)?

Long term Infection

  • Long term bacterial condition and/or take long term antibiotic medication to treat (including respiratory)?
  • Long term fungal infection and/or take antifungal medication (including respiratory)?
  • Long term protozoa condition and/or take protozoan medication (including respiratory)?
  • Long term viral condition and/or takes long term viral medication (including respiratory)?

Liver disease

Kidney condition

Cancer

Others:

  • Catch infections easily?
  • Unusual bleeding (nose, ears, eyes skin, gums, anus, genitals), bleeding into skin/prolonged bleeding after injury?
  • Poor general health or of poor social wellbeing?
  • Drink excessive amounts of alcohol (alcohol can weaken immune system)?
  • Smoking?
  • Long-term aspirin therapy in patients younger than 19 years?

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Weak immune condition in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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