Infections in cancer patients

1. Infections in Cancer Patients

2. A cancer patient’s body is more susceptible to infections. Since cancer treatment and care involves a lot of medication and chemotherapy, immunity is suppressed, which leads to increased risk of infections and other problems.

3. Immune System and Infections Infections, firstly, strike the immune system. Infections are mainly caused by small living organisms that enter the body and start multiplying. There are some harmless organisms that help the bodies to function properly. But some others tend to cause diseases.

4. If such organisms enter the body, and the immune system fails to combat them immediately, you are likely to develop an infection that will make you ill. If the infection is left unrated, it may lead to severe health complications. There are some life-threatening infections, especially in case if you have lower resistance to infections arising from a typical cancer treatment.

5. There are some cancer types and treatments that can weaken the immune system. They stop the bone marrow from producing blood cells, which helps fight infections. This leads to an increased risk of developing infection. White blood cells, on the other hand, play a bigger role in warding off infection. Low white blood cells count is called neutropenia.

6. Bacterial Infection after Cancer Treatment Bacteria are believed to be the common cause of infection in cancer patients. There are different types of bacteria that may be involved, which includes staphylococcus, streptococcus, pseudomonas, clostridium difficile, escherichia coli and listeria monocytogenes.

7. Viral Infections Viruses are small particles that cannot survive on their own. In order to reproduce, they must infect living cells like the cells in our body. Virus is responsible for causing flu. Some of the most common viruses causing infections in cancer patients include herpes simplex, common cold virus, varicella zoster, influenza and cytomegalovirus.

8. Staph, which is the first kind, affects the skin. Though the infection may start off as a small one, it graduates to become serious. Strep is the second common bacterial infection that causes skin infection – cellulites- and tonsillitis. They are normally treated with penicillin. Other bacteria can lead to bladder infections, diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and similar symptoms.

9. Many cancer treatments tend to have severe effect on the immune system, thus making the body less able to combat small infections. It takes longer to recover from a cold or flu. Complications tend to worsen over time.

10. Fungal Infections Fungi can reside in the body without causing problems. However, a fungal infection occurs when the immune system becomes weak, thus causing problem. One of the most commonly occurring fungal infections in cancer patients is Candida, also known as thrush. Patients who get a sore mouth as a result of radiotherapy or chemotherapy are at an increased risk of getting thrush.

11. Less commonly affecting fungal infections is pneumocystis and aspergillosis. These infections, though not serious, makes the immune system weak.

12. Protozoal Infections Protozoa are probably the tiniest animals known to mankind. Protozoa causes toxoplasmosis infection. It may lead to mild illnesses in common people, but severe ones in people with cancer, which may even spread to the brain.

13. It is important to note that these infections will only pose to become problems if your body’s resistance to infections is low.