Susceptibility to infection

As the name itself suggests, is Susceptibility to infection or immunodeficiency especially given if you are more susceptible to infections and infectious diseases than normal. Especially if you are often sick, often have flu infections or colds, one speaks of susceptibility to infections. As a rule, a lack of vitamins and trace elements is responsible, which indirectly weaken the immune system and make those affected more susceptible to diseases.

causes

A susceptibility to infection appears to those affected as having an immune deficiency because they are constantly plagued with a sore throat, runny nose, bronchitis or other symptoms of the common cold. Children and toddlers in particular are often susceptible to infection.

The diagnosis of the blood often reveals neither an antibody deficiency nor a deficiency in white blood cells. So there is no demonstrable immune deficiency, but often the opposite of it, an increased activity of the immune system, as is also found in hay fever, allergic asthma or neurodermatitis.

Often it is not a question of an immune deficiency or susceptibility to infection, as is the case with AIDS, but rather a behavior of the immune system that is overdone by nervousness and stress. And the opposite of the immune strength now occurs.

Other causes of susceptibility to infection are:

• Metabolic diseases or organ damage

• Food allergies and intolerances

• Vitamin and mineral deficiency

• Pollutant loads from poisons, industrial and car exhaust fumes

• Side effects from medication

• Chronic infections (e.g. chronic bronchitis, neurodermatitis, fungal infections in the intestine, AIDS)

• Cold air

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Diseases with this symptom

• 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 name of the symptom: the body gets infections more quickly and more frequently. Some of these can be very dangerous. A susceptibility to infection arises due to a weakening of the immune system. Such immunosuppressive diseases are, for example, AIDS or leukemia.

AIDS is the terminal stage of HIV infection. This leads to the outbreak of various infectious diseases. Those affected usually have another disease, usually hepatitis or some fungal diseases. In AIDS patients, these infections can easily spread systemically, leading to sepsis, which ends fatally in over half of the cases without treatment.

In addition, there is an increased risk of developing types of cancer that are rather untypical for those with poor immunity, such as Kaposi's sarcoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In addition, normally harmless diseases such as colds can be fatal. It is also more likely to get infected with influenza.

Complications of the "real" flu are virus-related pneumonia, which is characterized by shortness of breath and bleeding, which can lead to organ failure. In addition, otitis media or encephalitis can occur. With leukemia, too, there is an increased susceptibility to infection, which can have similar complications as with AIDS. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can also lead to an increased risk of thrombosis and bleeding, as the number of blood platelets first increases and then decreases again.

When should you go to the doctor?

A person's susceptibility to infection varies and does not follow any clear rule. Nevertheless, every adult can assess their own susceptibility to infection and recognize when they get sick less or more often than usual. In order to decide whether a visit to the doctor is advisable, it mainly depends on your own assessment. If a person falls ill more often than before or if infections last longer than they know, the doctor should check their general health. There are many conceivable causes, some of which are relatively harmless and others point to serious underlying diseases. Since an increased susceptibility to infections can signal that the body is missing something completely different, it must be clarified by a doctor over time.

Particular caution applies when children develop an increased susceptibility to infections. Since their immune system is still in the process of building up, there is a suspicion that something is weakening it - so there is a risk that it will not be able to develop healthily and that it will develop even bigger problems in adulthood. If children are sick again and again, the pediatrician should carry out a health check and determine why. This does not only apply if the little ones suddenly develop an increased susceptibility to infections, although they were previously more resistant. Recurring infections in childhood are not good in the long term and must be clarified by a doctor.

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Treatment & 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 for life. You can also use the Susceptibility to infection through a healthy life with a lot of sport, healthy air, little stress and excitement and the renouncement of smoking and alcohol prevent well and strengthen your immune system and defenses.

If the disease is susceptible to infection due to illness, the causal disease should be treated first.

Outlook & forecast

The susceptibility to infection differs from person to person and sometimes depends on age, life situation and general health. If the susceptibility to infection is low, it can be assumed that people are generally in good health, eat sensibly and have sufficient exercise as well as compensation for everyday stress, because all of this strengthens the immune system. As a result, small infections rarely occur and people are also well protected against more unpleasant diseases with a low susceptibility to infections.

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 strong immune systems also experience less serious illnesses.

A high susceptibility to infections can have various causes and initially leads to people becoming sick more often. It is easily infected and is therefore prone to more serious infections. Depending on the general condition of the person concerned, this harbors certain risks - older people who are more susceptible to infections or small babies, for example, should not be brought into the immediate vicinity of a flu patient.

The increased susceptibility to infections is probably due to a weakened immune system, which can certainly have long-term consequences. Because if the immune system does not protect against small infections, it can hardly offer proper protection against serious diseases. A permanently increased susceptibility to infection must therefore be taken seriously for health.

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➔ Medicines to strengthen the defense and immune system

prevention

Home remedies ↵ against infections
susceptibility Susceptibility to infections, which are not caused by pathological diseases, can be prevented by a healthy life with lots of exercise, fresh air, a healthy diet and refraining from smoking and alcohol and strengthening one's immune system and defenses.

Endurance sports in every season and a diet rich in vitamins have proven to be particularly effective. Raw vegetables in the form of salads and fresh fruit in particular reduce the susceptibility to infection significantly.

The best way to prevent susceptibility to infection or immunodeficiency in the context of AIDS is through protected sexual intercourse. Further preventive measures are anthroposophic remedies that calm and stabilize the immune system. However, this type of medicine is controversial. There are also numerous over-the-counter drugs in pharmacies that strengthen the immune system.

Aftercare

With regard to susceptibility to infection, follow-up care is often the same as prevention measures. The main aim is to sustainably strengthen the body's immune system so that the organism can respond adequately to attack by bacteria and viruses. Sufficient sleep and protection in cold weather are very important in this context. Ideally, drafts should be completely avoided.

To strengthen the immune system, saunas, which can cause a good hardening, are suitable. Diet and the amount of water you drink are also important factors related to susceptibility to infection. The diet should be rich in vitamins in order to strengthen the immune system. Drinking sufficient amounts is helpful and best implemented with water and herbal tea. Nicotine and alcohol increase susceptibility to infection and should therefore be reduced or avoided entirely.

Fresh air is important. Even in the cold season, walks with appropriate clothing are therefore advisable. In addition, consistent ventilation in living rooms and offices is very important. This is especially true for the bedroom.

Anyone who is prone to infections of the upper respiratory tract can ensure that the throat is optimally moistened as part of the aftercare. This can be done by drinking or sucking on candy. The sliding ability of the pharynx mucosa thus achieved offers the bacteria that cause infections in this area a particularly small area to attack.

You can do that yourself

As a rule, susceptibility to infection can be counteracted relatively well with home remedies. A healthy lifestyle is usually the first step in combating susceptibility to infection. A healthy lifestyle is first and foremost part of a healthy diet. It is ideal here if those affected consume a lot of fruit and vegetables and avoid fatty, sweet and generally unhealthy food as much as possible.

Avoiding alcohol and other drugs is just as important. These weaken the immune system and only increase susceptibility to infections. If this is an addiction, withdrawal is strongly recommended. Taking up a sporting activity also has a very positive effect on susceptibility to infection. A strengthening of the immune system can also be achieved with saunas and cold showers.

Homeopathic remedies against susceptibility to infection can also be taken. However, their effectiveness is highly controversial in medicine, so that these agents do not lead to success for all people. If the methods for self-help are unsuccessful, a doctor should definitely be consulted. This can determine why the susceptibility to infection occurs and how this symptom can be combated.