Recurrent Infections

Your immune system is an important system in your body because it leads to fighting defense fighting germs that could cause infections. However, sometimes your immune system can be overwhelmed with fighting infections, leading to recurrent infections or constant illness or infection. Recurrent infections can be a nuisance and can as well lead to loss of life if you respond to them promptly. There are several symptoms of recurrent infections which are obvious. These include:

Recurrent Pneumonia

Recurrent pneumonia is one of the symptoms you may experience when faced with recurrent infections. When you’ve had pneumonia or a respiratory infection and recover from it later, it will reappear after a month or more after it has been cleared.

Regular Fungal or Yeast Infections

Another symptom of recurrent infection is regular fungal or yeast infection. Your medication might help you eliminate vaginal yeast infections or fungal infections in your nails or feet but reappear after several weeks or months later. This indicates that your immune system isn’t clearing the infection from your system.

Reappearing Cold Flu

When you have cold flu that keeps reappearing several weeks or months after treatment, note that you have a recurrent infection.

Diagnosing Recurrent Infections

Recurrent infection is diagnosed in the body in different ways. The recurrent infections may be as a sign of immunodeficiency disorder. An immunodeficiency happens when your body can’t produce antibodies to attach the germs and destroy them. There is secondary and primary immunodeficiency. Secondary immunodeficiencies come from various conditions, such as cancer therapies, bone marrow transplant, and immune modulating drugs that are used to treat various autoimmune conditions. Primary immunodeficiency diseases are a group of more than 250 diseases that defects the body’s immune system. Most of the primary immunodeficiency diseases are inherited in our genes, making them present during birth.

Management and Treatment

Strategies for treating and preventing recurrent infections include:

• Use of antibodies or antifungals. Also, note that with repeated treatment using the same antibiotic can render the drug ineffective by making the drug develop resistance. So make sure you discuss the side effects with your health provider.
• Bone marrow transplantation, gene therapy, or surgery is also another great treatment for recurrent infections.
• Immunoglobulin replacement therapy is another treatment method that can help with the antibodies you need to stay healthy.
• Nonpharmacologic methods such as sinus rinse and complementary medicine such as yoga and meditation can lessen the infection as well.

Get Your Recurrent Infection Treated as Soon as Possible

Recurrent infection can deny you a lot of peace if you take care of it. The first way of dealing with infection is to know the signs and symptoms, then take the necessary steps in getting rid of it. Make sure you get help from qualified medical personnel who knows what the infection requires. Contact us today and let our physicians help you treat and prevent this infection.

Management and Treatment

If you or your child has been diagnosed with PID, it is important to work with a team of specialists to create a treatment plan. There are also a few things you can do at home to help manage the condition. These may include:

• Washing your hands often and avoiding close contact with people who are sick
• Avoiding crowded places during cold and flu season
• Staying up-to-date on all vaccinations
• Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of rest
• Exercising regularly

How Can We Help?

We are committed to providing comprehensive care for our patients at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. To make an appointment, please call us on 850.969.2340.