Weakened Immune System
A healthy immune system will often be powerful enough to fight off M. tuberculosis, but what happens when your immune system is already compromised somehow? In that event, you are much more susceptible. Some of the factors contributing to a weakened immune system include the following:
• HIV/AID infection
• Autoimmune disorders
• Severe kidney disease
• Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy
• Head and neck cancer
• Organ transplant medication
• Malnutrition
• Drugs used to treat psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis
Other groups who often have vulnerable immune systems include the elderly and infants.
