What is immune suppression?

Immune suppression, also known as immunosuppression or immunocompromise, means your immune system isn’t working properly. This includes any or all of the defences that make up your immune system – particularly the white cells in our bloodstream, along with our spleen and lymph nodes.

When this system is suppressed, ie not working as it should, we are more vulnerable to infection.

What does it mean for me?

If your immune system is suppressed, you may be more vulnerable to infection. You are more likely to need to see a doctor, more likely to need antibiotics and more likely to land up in hospital for treatment if you develop an infection, than someone who is not immunosuppressed. You can’t have live vaccines if you are immunosuppressed, and you may need to take special precautions when you travel.

You are also more vulnerable to certain skin cancers if you are immunosuppressed.