Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHealth RisksCauses and ConditionsSigns and SymptomsPreventing IllnessSafety in Public Places
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Health Risks
Causes and Conditions
Signs and Symptoms
Preventing Illness
Safety in Public Places
If you are immunocompromised, your immune system is weakened, making you more susceptible to severe illness and infection. Some people are born with a weakened immune system, while others can become immunocompromised due to a chronic medical condition or certain medications.
There is no way to treat or cure a weakened immune system, but there are ways to manage it and keep yourself healthy.
Why Being Immunocompromised Is a Health Risk
Beingimmunocompromisedmeans it will be easier for you to become ill or develop an infection and, if you are sick, be more likely to experience severe illness or complications.
Your immune system protects your body from harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can cause illness. If your immune system is not functioning properly, you are more likely to become infected with contagious diseases.
Primary Immunodeficiency
You can be immunocompromised naturally from genetic mutations or inherited conditions that impair immune system function. This is sometimes referred to as ‘primary immunodeficiency.’
Examples of immunodeficiencies that are usually present at birth are:
Certain Conditions
Various health conditions can directly or indirectly impair your immune system, including:
Aging
Naturalagingcontributes to a weakened immune system. As you age, your immune system becomes less effective, making you more likely to succumb to illness or infection.
Some Medications
Some medications can also decrease the power of your immune system, such as:
Immunosuppressantswork to reduce an overactive immune system, but they weaken the immune response, making people who take them more susceptible to illness.Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking these medications.
How Do Chemo and Radiation Affect the Immune System?
How to Tell: Signs and Symptoms
People who are immunocompromised might notice that they become sick often. These illnesses can take many forms, and some common presentations of immunodeficiency include frequent or recurrent:
Diagnosing DeficienciesAside from frequent illness or infection, specificblood testscould provide insight into your immunity. These tests may be used as screening tools; healthcare providers usually perform them only when they suspect an issue.Tests that can reveal information about your immune status include:Complete blood count (CBC)Lymphocyte countsT-cell countNeutrophil countYour healthcare provider may use these tests to diagnose an immunodeficiency or monitor the effects of the immunosuppressant drugs you take.
Diagnosing Deficiencies
Aside from frequent illness or infection, specificblood testscould provide insight into your immunity. These tests may be used as screening tools; healthcare providers usually perform them only when they suspect an issue.Tests that can reveal information about your immune status include:Complete blood count (CBC)Lymphocyte countsT-cell countNeutrophil countYour healthcare provider may use these tests to diagnose an immunodeficiency or monitor the effects of the immunosuppressant drugs you take.
Aside from frequent illness or infection, specificblood testscould provide insight into your immunity. These tests may be used as screening tools; healthcare providers usually perform them only when they suspect an issue.
Tests that can reveal information about your immune status include:
Your healthcare provider may use these tests to diagnose an immunodeficiency or monitor the effects of the immunosuppressant drugs you take.
What You Can Do If Your Immune System Is Compromised
If you have a condition or take a medication that causes an immune deficiency, take extra care to protect yourself from illness or infection.
This includes taking steps like:
Talk to your healthcare provider if you are immunocompromised and suspect you are getting sick or developing an infection. It may help to develop an action plan on when to get help in order to prevent severe infection and fatal complications likesepsis.
Self-Protection and Care in Public Spaces
In addition to self-care measures to avoid infection and illness, people who are immunocompromised need to consider the risks of public places. Handwashing can only protect you so much, especially around airborne pathogens.
For example, you may want to avoid going out in public shortly after a chemotherapy treatment. If you are unable to receive the flu vaccine and you have a weak immune system, going to crowded, public places during flu season is a bad idea.
Vaccinations for Immunocompromised PeopleIf you have a weak immune system, getting routine vaccinations prevents infection and illness. This includes immunizations against seasonal illnesses like COVID-19 and influenza (the flu).Immunocompromised people should neverreceivelive versions of any vaccines. Most vaccines contain inactive forms of the organisms they are meant to fight, but live vaccines carry small amounts of active pathogens designed to trigger a natural immune response.Talk to your healthcare provider about your immune status before receiving any vaccinations.
Vaccinations for Immunocompromised People
If you have a weak immune system, getting routine vaccinations prevents infection and illness. This includes immunizations against seasonal illnesses like COVID-19 and influenza (the flu).Immunocompromised people should neverreceivelive versions of any vaccines. Most vaccines contain inactive forms of the organisms they are meant to fight, but live vaccines carry small amounts of active pathogens designed to trigger a natural immune response.Talk to your healthcare provider about your immune status before receiving any vaccinations.
If you have a weak immune system, getting routine vaccinations prevents infection and illness. This includes immunizations against seasonal illnesses like COVID-19 and influenza (the flu).
Immunocompromised people should neverreceivelive versions of any vaccines. Most vaccines contain inactive forms of the organisms they are meant to fight, but live vaccines carry small amounts of active pathogens designed to trigger a natural immune response.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your immune status before receiving any vaccinations.
Overall, some extra steps to helpprotect yourselfinclude:
Summary
Being immunocompromised increases your chances of developing an illness or infection. Since it typically can’t be cured, prevented, or treated, it’s important to take care of yourself and limit activities that could expose you to illness.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Immunodeficiency disorders.National Institutes of Health.Types of primary immune deficiency diseases.American Lung Association.The COVID-19 and immunocompromised connection.National Institutes of Health.Immunocompromised.Hussain Y, Khan H.Immunosuppressive drugs.Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity. 2022:726–40. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-818731-9.00068-9.Immune Deficiency Foundation.Laboratory tests.Sepsis Alliance.Infection prevention in immunocompromised people.Ptasiewicz M, Grywalska E, Mertowska P, Korona-Głowniak I, Poniewierska-Baran A, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P, Chałas R.Armed to the teeth: the oral mucosa immunity system and microbiota.Int J Mol Sci.2022;23(2):882. doi:10.3390/ijms23020882.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Altered immunocompetence: general best practices for immunization.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Immunodeficiency disorders.National Institutes of Health.Types of primary immune deficiency diseases.American Lung Association.The COVID-19 and immunocompromised connection.National Institutes of Health.Immunocompromised.Hussain Y, Khan H.Immunosuppressive drugs.Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity. 2022:726–40. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-818731-9.00068-9.Immune Deficiency Foundation.Laboratory tests.Sepsis Alliance.Infection prevention in immunocompromised people.Ptasiewicz M, Grywalska E, Mertowska P, Korona-Głowniak I, Poniewierska-Baran A, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P, Chałas R.Armed to the teeth: the oral mucosa immunity system and microbiota.Int J Mol Sci.2022;23(2):882. doi:10.3390/ijms23020882.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Altered immunocompetence: general best practices for immunization.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Immunodeficiency disorders.National Institutes of Health.Types of primary immune deficiency diseases.American Lung Association.The COVID-19 and immunocompromised connection.National Institutes of Health.Immunocompromised.Hussain Y, Khan H.Immunosuppressive drugs.Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity. 2022:726–40. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-818731-9.00068-9.Immune Deficiency Foundation.Laboratory tests.Sepsis Alliance.Infection prevention in immunocompromised people.Ptasiewicz M, Grywalska E, Mertowska P, Korona-Głowniak I, Poniewierska-Baran A, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P, Chałas R.Armed to the teeth: the oral mucosa immunity system and microbiota.Int J Mol Sci.2022;23(2):882. doi:10.3390/ijms23020882.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Altered immunocompetence: general best practices for immunization.
MedlinePlus.Immunodeficiency disorders.
National Institutes of Health.Types of primary immune deficiency diseases.
American Lung Association.The COVID-19 and immunocompromised connection.
National Institutes of Health.Immunocompromised.
Hussain Y, Khan H.Immunosuppressive drugs.Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity. 2022:726–40. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-818731-9.00068-9.
Immune Deficiency Foundation.Laboratory tests.
Sepsis Alliance.Infection prevention in immunocompromised people.
Ptasiewicz M, Grywalska E, Mertowska P, Korona-Głowniak I, Poniewierska-Baran A, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P, Chałas R.Armed to the teeth: the oral mucosa immunity system and microbiota.Int J Mol Sci.2022;23(2):882. doi:10.3390/ijms23020882.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Altered immunocompetence: general best practices for immunization.
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