As the name itself expresses, infection susceptibility or immunodeficiency is especially when you are susceptible to infections and infectious diseases more often than normal. Especially if one is frequently ill, often has flu-like infections or colds, one speaks of susceptibility to infections. As a rule, a lack of vitamins and trace elements is responsible, which thus indirectly weaken the immune system and make those affected more susceptible to disease.
Causes
If one is frequently ill, often has flu-like infections or colds one speaks of susceptibility to infections. Usually a deficiency of vitamins and trace elements is responsible. A susceptibility to infections appears to the affected person like an immune deficiency, because he is constantly plagued with sore throats, colds, bronchitis or other symptoms of the common cold. Children and infants in particular are often affected by susceptibility to infection. The diagnosis of the blood often reveals neither an antibody deficiency nor a deficiency of white blood cells. Thus, there is no detectable immune deficiency, but often the opposite, an increased activity of the immune system, as it is also found in hay fever, allergic asthma or neurodermatitis. Often it is not a matter of immune deficiency or susceptibility to infections, as in the case of AIDS, but rather a behavior of the immune system that has become overactive due to nervousness and stress. And the opposite of immune strength now occurs. Other causes of susceptibility to infection are:
- Metabolic diseases or organ damage
- Allergies and intolerances to foods.
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Pollution from toxins, industrial and car exhaust fumes.
- Side effects from medications
- Chronic infections (eg, chronic bronchitis, atopic dermatitis, fungal diseases of the intestine, AIDS).
- Cold air
Diseases with this symptom
- Common cold
- Leukemia
- AIDS
- Vitamin deficiency
- HIV infection
- Hypothyroidism
- Bronchitis
- Mineral deficiency
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Burnout syndrome
- Neurodermatitis
- Hay fever
Complications
The complications of susceptibility to infection can be deduced from the very name of the symptom: The body gets infections faster and more often. Some of these can be very dangerous. Susceptibility to infection occurs because of a weakening of the immune system. Such immunosuppressive diseases are, for example, AIDS or leukemia. AIDS is the final stage of an HIV infection. In this case, various infectious diseases break out. Affected people usually have another disease, usually hepatitis or some fungal diseases. In AIDS patients, these infections can easily spread systemically, resulting in sepsis, which is fatal in more than half of the cases without treatment. In addition, there is an increased risk of developing cancers that are atypical for immunodeficiency patients, such as Kaposi’s sarcoma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In addition, normally harmless illnesses such as colds can be fatal. It also makes infection with influenza more likely. Complications of the “real” flu include virus-induced pneumonia, characterized by shortness of breath and bleeding, which can lead to organ failure. In addition, middle ear infection or encephalitis can also occur. Leukemia also leads to an increased susceptibility to infections, which can have similar complications as AIDS. There may also be an increased risk of thrombosis and bleeding in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) because the platelet count initially increases and then decreases.
When should you see a doctor?
A person’s susceptibility to infection varies and does not follow a clear rule. Nevertheless, every adult can estimate his or her own susceptibility to infections and recognize when he or she becomes ill less frequently or more frequently than usual. To decide whether a visit to the doctor is advisable, it depends mainly on one’s own assessment. If a person falls ill more often than before or if infections last longer than he or she is used to, the doctor should check the general health.There are many conceivable causes, some of which are relatively harmless and others of which point to serious underlying diseases. Since an increased susceptibility to infections can signal that the body is lacking something else entirely, it must be clarified by a doctor over time. Special care must be taken when children develop an increased susceptibility to infections. Since their immune system is still developing, there is a suspicion that something is weakening it – so there is a risk that it will not be able to develop healthily and will develop even greater problems in adulthood. If children are repeatedly ill, the pediatrician should perform a health check and determine what the cause is. This is not only true if the little ones suddenly develop an increased susceptibility to infections, even though they were more resistant before. Recurrent childhood infections are not good in the long run and need to be checked out by a doctor.
Treatment and therapy
The most important thing in our time is proper nutrition. Almost all fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables have the important vitamins, minerals and trace elements that we need to live. Furthermore, the susceptibility to infection can be well prevented by a healthy life with plenty of exercise, healthy air, little stress and excitement and the renunciation of smoking and alcohol and strengthen your immune system and defenses. In the case of susceptibility to infections caused by disease, the causative disease should be treated first.
Outlook and prognosis
Susceptibility to infection varies from person to person and sometimes depends on age, life situation, and general health. If the susceptibility to infections is low, it can be assumed that the person is generally in good health, eats a sensible diet, and has sufficient exercise and compensation for everyday stress, because all of these strengthen the immune system. As a result, minor infections occur only rarely and people with a low susceptibility to infections are also well protected against more unpleasant diseases. Although science does not yet know the exact connection between a strong immune system and serious illnesses such as cancer, it can be assumed that people with a strong immune system are less likely to experience serious illnesses. A high susceptibility to infections can have various causes and initially leads to a person becoming ill more frequently. They become infected easily and are therefore susceptible to more serious infections. Depending on the general condition of the person concerned, this entails certain risks – for example, older people who are more susceptible to infections or small babies should not be brought into the direct vicinity of a flu patient. The increased susceptibility to infection is probably due to a weakened immune system, which may well have long-term consequences. After all, if the immune system does not protect against minor infections, it can hardly provide proper protection against serious illnesses either. A permanently increased susceptibility to infections is therefore quite serious for health.
Prevention
Susceptibility to infections that are not caused by disease can be well prevented and one’s immune system and defenses strengthened by leading a healthy life with plenty of exercise, fresh air, a healthy diet and abstaining from smoking and alcohol. Endurance sports at any time of the year and a vitamin-rich diet have proven to be particularly effective. Raw vegetables in the form of salads and fresh fruit in particular greatly reduce susceptibility to infection. Susceptibility to infections or immunodeficiency in the context of AIDS can best be prevented by protected sexual intercourse. Other preventive measures are anthroposophical remedies that calm and stabilize the immune system. However, this type of medicine is controversial. Furthermore, there are numerous over-the-counter medicines available in pharmacies that strengthen the immune system.
Aftercare
In terms of susceptibility to infection, aftercare is often the same as preventive measures. It is primarily a matter of strengthening the body’s immune system in the long term, so that the organism can respond adequately to the attack of bacteria and viruses. Sufficient sleep and protection in cold weather are very important in this context. Ideally, drafts should be avoided completely. To strengthen the immune system, sauna sessions are a good way to toughen up. Nutrition and drinking quantity are also important factors around the infection susceptibility. The diet should be rich in vitamins to strengthen the immune system. It is helpful to drink a sufficient amount of fluids, and the best way to do this is with water and herbal tea.Nicotine and alcohol promote susceptibility to infection and should therefore be reduced or avoided altogether. Fresh air is important. Even in the cold season, walks with appropriate clothing are therefore advisable. In addition, consistent ventilation in living and office spaces is very important. This is especially true for the bedroom. Those who are prone to upper respiratory tract infections can ensure optimal moistening of the throat as part of aftercare. This can be done by drinking or sucking candy. The lubricity of the pharyngeal mucosa achieved in this way thus offers the bacteria that trigger infections in this area particularly little surface for attack.
What you can do yourself
As a rule, susceptibility to infection can be counteracted relatively well with home remedies. Mostly, a healthy lifestyle is the first step to take against a susceptibility to infections. A healthy lifestyle includes, first and foremost, a healthy diet. Here, it is ideal if those affected eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and avoid fatty, sweet and generally unhealthy foods as much as possible. It is equally important to abstain from alcohol and other drugs. These weaken the immune system and only increase susceptibility to infection. If this is an addiction, withdrawal is strongly recommended. Taking up a sporting activity also has a very positive effect on susceptibility to infections. Strengthening the immune system can also be achieved with sauna sessions and cold showers. Homeopathic remedies against susceptibility to infections can also be taken. However, their effectiveness is highly disputed in medicine, so that these remedies do not lead to success in all people. If self-help methods are not successful, a doctor should be consulted in any case. This can determine, why the infection susceptibility occurs and how with it this symptom can be fought.