Lupus and flu shot side effect11/6/2023 ![]() Health Canada’s Canadian Immunization Guide (2002) sets a schedule of when children and adults should receive various vaccinations. Immunization is another important step in protecting yourself from infections. If soap and running water aren’t available, clean your hands with waterless hand scrubs, such as those made with ethyl alcohol. That means using an adequate amount of soap, rubbing your hands together to create friction for at least 10 seconds, and rinsing under running water. ![]() The most important precaution you can take to prevent infection is to wash your hands regularly and well. If you have lupus, you should live by the motto “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Protect yourself from infections with some common-sense precautions: handle food safely, avoid people who are ill and contagious, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Burning sensation on urination, increased urinary frequency or flank pain.Swollen, tender, red and painful joints with limited range of motion.A cough productive of sputum or shortness of breath.A headache plus confusion and/or neck stiffness. ![]() See your doctor if you have a fever that lasts for more than a few days if you also have any of the following symptoms plus fever, you should seek medical advice urgently: ![]() In order to prevent serious, possibly life-threatening complications, infections must be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. It is very important to take your symptoms seriously don’t dismiss them as “just” a flare. Unfortunately, active lupus mimics infection, and infection not only mimics lupus, but can also cause a flare. Is it a lupus flare or an infection?įatigue and fever may indicate a lupus flare or an infection. The most common fungal infection in people with lupus is yeast (Candida), which can infect the vagina, throat and esophagus. Common viral infections include cold viruses, herpes zoster (shingles) and Epstein-Barr less common is viral hepatitis. Some individuals with lupus, particularly those on immunosuppressive drugs, are at higher risk for bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, joints and urinary tract. Tuberculosis and fungal infections are less common, but also important. The two most common types of infections of primary concern to people with lupus are viral and bacterial. For people with these conditions, vaccination may be particularly important. Other conditions that increase a person’s susceptibility to infections include: neutropenia (low white blood cell count), lymphopenia (low number of immune cells in the blood), chronic kidney failure, diabetes and poor spleen function or surgical removal of the spleen. For example, nephrotic syndrome, which causes excessive loss of protein in the urine due to lupus kidney disease, is known to increase the risk of serious infections. The risk for specific infections is also associated with certain complications of lupus. Thus, the risk of infection varies from person to person and over the course of each individual’s disease. Genetic risk factors may also play a role. While most people can fight off these invaders with the body’s natural defense mechanisms, people with lupus may have impaired immune systems, most often due to the immunosuppressive drugs (including corticosteroids) used to treat the disease. Why the increased risk of infection? Our environment is filled with micro-organisms – viruses and bacteria – that can cause infections. As a result, infection prevention and immunization programs are of critical importance for people with lupus. In fact, despite the significantly improved prognosis for this disease over the past two decades, infections continue to be a leading concern in people with lupus. People with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus), especially those who are on immunosuppressive medications, may be at increased risk for a variety of infections.
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