Immunodeficiency: Prevention

To prevent immunodeficiency (immune deficiency, susceptibility to infection), attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.

Behavioral risk factors

  • Diet
    • Malnutrition
    • Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances) – see Prevention with micronutrients.
  • Consumption of stimulants
    • Alcohol
    • Tobacco (smoking)
  • Physical activity
    • Competitive sports – Balancing sports activities such as a daily tight walk (at least half an hour long), gardening, cycling, swimming, gymnastics, fitness are preferable to risky and physically demanding sports
    • High workload (eg, heavy work).
    • Shift work
  • Psycho-social situation
    • Bullying
    • Serious life cuts
    • Mental conflicts
    • Social isolation
    • Stress
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Overweight (BMI ≥ 25; obesity)
  • Underweight (BMI < 18.5)

Environmental stress – intoxications

  • Exposure to ionizing radiation
  • Noise
  • Radiation syndrome – complex of symptoms that may occur after therapy/exposure to ionizing radiation.

Preventive measures in immunodeficiency or susceptibility to infection

The following tips should be followed by patients with tumor diseases or immunodeficiencies or susceptibility to infections absolutely!

Food

Refrain from eating foods that are not sterilized and may contain many pathogens:

  • Raw or only soft-boiled eggs, fried eggs.
  • Tiramisu; no dishes with beaten egg whites.
  • Raw milk or raw milk products (raw milk cheese).
  • Insufficiently prepared meat or fish dishes.
  • Raw food purified with tap water

Other rules for food preparation or menu that should be followed without fail:

  • Cook all dishes for at least 10 minutes at a minimum of 60 ° C.
  • Use up opened food immediately or throw away the rest
  • Ice cream only from the freezer; soft ice cream often contains pathogens (especially salmonella).

Other rules

  • “Cook it, peel it or forget it” (“peel it, boil it, fry it or forget it”).
  • No open buffets.
  • Peel fruits fresh.
  • Eat only in restaurants known high standard

Prophylaxis of the washing machine from exposure to germs

  • Regular cleaning of the seal
  • Leave machine open for drying
  • Wash at ≥ 60 °C

Protective measures against diseases transmitted by vectors (disease vectors)/other

  • Implementation of exposure prophylaxis, i.e. mosquito protection especially at dusk and at night:
    • Stay in mosquito-proof rooms (air conditioning, fly screens) during twilight / night.
    • Sleeping under mosquito nets (impregnated with insecticidal substances).
    • Wearing appropriate (if necessary impregnated) clothing (long-sleeved blouses and shirts, long pants, socks).
    • Use of repellents (relative protection!): insect repellents containing at least 20% DEET or at least 10% picaridin.
  • High-risk activities
    • Spending time in crowds (bazaars, public transportation, stadiums)/hospitals (inhalation-transmitted diseases)
    • Avoidance
      • Freshwater contact in areas where schistosomiasis (bilharzia) or other infections are endemic (occur locally)
      • Freshwater contact after rainfall/flooding (leptospirosis).
    • Walking barefoot, risky unprotected sexual activity, avoiding percutaneous blood contact (tattoos, piercings), approaching animals (rabies).