For people whose systems are immunocompromised, those measures will be slightly different. According to the CDC, older adults, and people who have underlying chronic medical conditions — such as immunocompromising conditions — may be at risk for more severe outcomes. From preparedness to healthful hacks, here’s what immunologists recommend to protect yourself or a loved one who has a vulnerable immune system during this coronavirus outbreak. RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus According to Dr. Roberts, immunodeficiency has to do with the diminished function of the immune system, which can lead to an inability to fight infections. Conditions that may lead to this include: diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cancer, Crohn’s disease, inherited deficiencies of the immune system, sickle cell disease, depressed immune defenses (such as low white-blood-cell count), immune suppressing medication, and malnutrition.
How Your Medication Can Put You at Risk
The risks for patients with conditions like inflammatory arthritis are predominantly related to their immune suppressing medication, rather than the disease itself, explains Roberts, who’s also medical advisor to CreakyJoints. “This, coupled with other chronic conditions … such as diabetes, which by itself predisposes patients to infections, contributes to our concerns about the occurrence and severity of infectious diseases,” he says. Roberts advises people with immunocompromised systems to remind their healthcare providers that they are taking immune suppressing medication when they’re being evaluated for infectious symptoms. It also depends on the medication you’re on, says Mark Ballow, MD, director of the allergy and immunology training program at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, and medical advisor for the Immune Deficiency Foundation. Since there isn’t a lot of information on COVID-19 and the medical community doesn’t have a lot of data on newer biologics either, like common TNFs inhibitors used to treat ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis, Dr. Ballow said it’s hard to know if those individuals are more at risk as a result of their medication.
Should You Be More Cautious of the Coronavirus Than the Flu?
A major concern with the flu, and likely the new coronavirus, is that an immune system weakened by medication and also fighting a viral infection may not be able to fight off a potentially deadly bacterial infection, explains Roberts. In fact, this is the cause of most deaths from influenza — it’s not the flu virus itself, but a secondary bacterial infection (often pneumonia) caused by staph or strep bacteria that leads to mortality, he says. Ballow advises seeking advice from your primary care physician in order to get tested, because early recognition of symptoms is vital in addressing the disease. RELATED: Coronavirus May Be in the Spotlight, but Flu Poses a Clear and Present Danger in US
Are There Certain Conditions That Make You More Susceptible?
From the available data, individuals over 70 and those with any chance of lung disease are at a higher risk, explains Ballow. “We have a lot more patients on biologics for IBD, psoriasis, and autoimmune hemo anemia (this destroys blood cells), which suppress the immune system,” he notes. The more severe or potentially life- or organ-threatening rheumatic diseases, such as lupus, systemic vasculitis, and severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis, may require stronger or higher doses of medication, Roberts explains. “These medications suppress the immune system to a greater degree, exposing the individual to greater risks due to infections,” he says. “Sometimes these conditions and medications may make it difficult to detect infections, since patients may not exhibit the normal symptoms of infections, such as high fevers or high white blood cell counts.” Roberts explains that any unusual or unfamiliar symptom in these patients should be viewed with suspicion. RELATED: 12 Questions Answered on How to Handle Anxiety in the Time of COVID-19 “My patients seem worried about potential travel exposures, and potentially contracting an illness from close contacts and family members, especially children and grandchildren,” says Roberts. He added that they’re also concerned about the safety of the flu vaccine so he reminds them it’s probably the best protection against the flu available to them. If his patients decide to travel, he recommends that they choose their travel destinations wisely, and ensure that access to high-quality medical care is available at their destination.
How Can You Boost Your Immune System?
We don’t have a specific remedy because there aren’t specific antibodies, explains Ballow. He suggests patients with compromised immune systems maintain their replacement immunoglobulin therapy. This is a treatment to boost your antibodies when they’re low. This, combined with good diet and exercise, is the best ways to stay healthy during the outbreak.
