Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medications, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.
Conditions
- A problem or condition present since birth (congenital defect)
- Previous injury to the affected area
- Previous surgery to the affected area
- Previous pulmonary embolism (PE)
- Previous deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Previous radiation treatments above or below the affected area
- Previous cellulitis
- Surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy)
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Smoking or other tobacco use
Medications
- Blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin, heparin, and aspirin
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- Medications to prevent organ transplant rejection
Diseases
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Gout
- Heart disease
- Heart failure
- Hemophilia
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Inherited bone disease
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Lupus
- Malnutrition or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteomyelitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Septic arthritis
- Septic bursitis
- Sickle cell anemia
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Last Updated | December 12, 2006 |
Author:Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Last Updated: 12/12/2006
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