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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does The Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Affect The Immune System?

I had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever as a teenager, does it affect my immune system? It seems that when I get sick, I get really sick. I am now recovering from the flu, yes I had a flu shot, but I was still so sick that I was in bed for 6 days. My wife seems to think that since I had RMSF, as well as double pneumonia, as a kid that my immune system is weakened.
posted on Sat, 15 Mar 2014
Twitter Mon, 21 Jul 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 21 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on
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  User's Response
Hi, thanks for posting your concern in the HCM. RMSF is the most common rickettsial disease. This does not cause long-term immunosuppression. Rather this causes vasculitis with localisation in the endothelial cells. This causes increased vascular permeability, resulting in edema, hypovolemia, hypotension and hypoalbuminemia. However, this does increase the risk of vascular complications and interstitial pneumonia. But, I don't think that this will affect your immune system. Rather, if you were prescribed long term steroids or any other immunosuppressive medication at any point of time that may have some effect. Therefore, please tell your wife not to worry regarding your immunity status. And she should also be proud that you could fight back against such a fatal disease. For any further questions please write back to us. Regards. Dr. Kaushik
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Does The Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Affect The Immune System?

Hi, thanks for posting your concern in the HCM. RMSF is the most common rickettsial disease. This does not cause long-term immunosuppression. Rather this causes vasculitis with localisation in the endothelial cells. This causes increased vascular permeability, resulting in edema, hypovolemia, hypotension and hypoalbuminemia. However, this does increase the risk of vascular complications and interstitial pneumonia. But, I don t think that this will affect your immune system. Rather, if you were prescribed long term steroids or any other immunosuppressive medication at any point of time that may have some effect. Therefore, please tell your wife not to worry regarding your immunity status. And she should also be proud that you could fight back against such a fatal disease. For any further questions please write back to us. Regards. Dr. Kaushik