What Causes Repeated Infections?

Repeated infections can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose repeated infections, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "repeated infections" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

Aplastic Anemia
Chediak-Higashi Syndrome
Adrenal Fatigue
Increased Folic Acid Need
Chemotherapy Side-Effects
Vitamin B12 Need
Cold Or Flu
Vitamin A Need

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

low systolic blood pressure

specific muscle weakness

past chemotherapy use

having asthma

dizziness when standing up

history of cortisol use

poor cold weather tolerance

elevated urine MMA levels

shortness of breath when at rest

difficulty conceiving children

H2-blocker antacid use

severe afternoon/evening fatigue

... and more than 90 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of repeated infections:

Cause	Probability	Status
Vitamin A Need	91%	Confirm
Increased Folic Acid Need	26%	Unlikely
Adrenal Fatigue	14%	Unlikely
Chediak-Higashi Syndrome	0%	Ruled out
Vitamin B12 Need	0%	Ruled out
Cold Or Flu	0%	Ruled out
Aplastic Anemia	0%	Ruled out
Chemotherapy Side-Effects	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Immune System Symptoms section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about frequency of infections:

How often do you get bacterial, viral, or fungal infections? For example, skin, ear, gastrointestinal, chest/respiratory, mouth, genitourinary. Symptoms usually include fever, pain, swelling, redness, pus, runny nose, sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes.

Possible responses:

→ Once a year or less / almost never
→ 1-2 per year / less than average
→ 2-3 per year / about average / don't know
→ 4-6 per year / regularly
→ More than 6 per year / I usually/always have one

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate very infrequent infections, infrequent infections, regular infections or frequent infections, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Leukemia

Due to its effects on white blood cells, leukemia prevents the immune system from working normally, sometimes resulting in frequent infections.

Low Adrenal Function / Adrenal Insufficiency

Lupus, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)

Lupus patients have abnormalities in their immune systems that predispose them to develop infections.

Neutropenia

The clinical signs of neutropenia manifest as infections, most commonly of the mucous membranes. Skin is the second most common infection site, manifesting as ulcers, abscesses, and rashes. The genitalia and perirectum also are affected. Signs of infection, including warmth and swelling, may be absent.

Neutropenia also suggests the following possibilities:

Aplastic Anemia

Aplastic anemia reduces the bone marrow's ability to produce white blood cells.

Autoimmune Tendency

Autoimmune disease can cause chronic neutropenia.

Chediak-Higashi Syndrome

Fanconi Anemia

Folic Acid Deficiency

Hypersplenism

Myelodysplastic Syndrome

The most common type of granulocyte (white blood cell with granules) in bone marrow is the neutrophil. In cases of Myelodysplastic Syndrome, the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow become abnormal, often leading to Neutropenia (a low number of neutrophils in the blood.)

Myelofibrosis

Radiation Poisoning

Radiation therapy or exposure can damage the bone marrow.

Sepsis

Neutropenia can be caused by widespread, severe bacterial infection that causes pus formation or bacteria in the blood, which in turn leads to increased destruction of neutrophils.

Vitamin B12 Requirement

Vitamin A Requirement

Weakened Immune System

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