VIRAL INFECTIONS IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS

Abstract

Immunocompromised patients have a decreased ability to fight infections and other diseases. This may be caused by certain diseases or conditions, such as AIDS, cancer, diabetes, malnutrition, and certain genetic disorders. Knowledge of viral infections in immunocompromised patients is sparse. We reviewed the incidence of different types of viruses in a well-characterized population of immunocompromised patients. All articles related to immunocompromised patients with suspicion of viral infection were included in the review. In general viral infections are common in a person who has general debility, immunosuppressive therapy, pregnancy, under treatment for allergy, and so on. Regardless of their specialties, physicians are increasingly confronted with many of the adverse effects of treatment that cause immune system suppression such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation for cancer, solid organ transplantation, and therapies for autoimmune and rheumatological diseases. The immunocompromised patients have weak immune systems and they are very much prone to infections and they can acquire infections from the community and also from the infected hosts. Herpesviruses, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus are most common of the viral infections affecting these patients, along with respiratory viruses. Antiviral drug therapies can be given combined with a reduction in a dose that cannot induce immunosuppression. In this review, we discussed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment plans of the viral infection in immunocompromised patients.