Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, 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 history of serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
• Chronic allergic conditions, such as hay fever, asthma, or eczema
• Exposure to a contagious disease
• A recent immunization
• Recent tick bite (exposure to Lyme disease)
• Recent travel outside of the United States
• Surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy)

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Engaging in risky sexual practices

Medicines

• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Radiation therapy
• Started a new medicine

Diseases

• Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Cancer
• Chronic skin conditions, such as eczema (atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, or contact dermatitis
• Diabetes
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Kawasaki disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sickle cell disease