WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED?

Medically reviewed by Josephine Hessert, DO

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

Being immunocompromised means 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.

Causes and Conditions

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

Natural aging contributes 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:

  • Corticosteroids
  • Chemotherapy
  • Medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and some skin conditions

Immunosuppressants work 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.

Read Next: 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:

  • Bronchitis
  • Ear infections
  • Meningitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Sinus infections
  • Skin infections

Diagnosing Deficiencies

Aside from frequent illness or infection, specific blood tests could 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:

  • Wearing a mask in crowded places
  • Working with a healthcare provider to ensure you're getting routine vaccinations and boosters
  • Practicing good hand hygiene
  • Thoroughly cleaning any open cuts, scrapes, or burns
  • Using antibiotic ointment on open wounds
  • Maintaining good oral health

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 like sepsis.

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 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 never receive live 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 help protect yourself include:

  • Washing your hands
  • Avoiding crowded or public places
  • Staying away from people you know are sick
  • Avoiding high-risk situations like travel to certain areas or farming
  • Wearing a mask when you're in public
  • Telling your close friends and relatives about your limitations
  • Alerting your healthcare providers to take extra care during visits

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.

Read the original article on Verywell Health

2025-01-07T17:33:45Z