What Precautions Should I Take For Swine Flu If I Had A Kidney Transplant?

Question: I am immunocompromised because of a transplanted kidney. What special precautions should I take with swine flu?

Answer: People who are immunocompromised due to an organ transplant, such as a kidney transplant, a heart transplant, or a pancreas transplant, are on medications that suppress their immune system. Consequently, they're more susceptible to getting infections, including the swine flu.

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Unfortunately, if they do get the swine flu or any other type of influenza, there is a greater chance that their influenza may be more severe. Thus, people who are immunocompromised due to these conditions should really take precautions to avoid contact with other ill people. This would include ill family members or other ill people that you might be visiting. If you are in contact with an ill person who is diagnosed with having influenza or swine flu, you should contact your physician because there are certain medications, such as Tamiflu or Relenza, that you could take prophylactically in order to prevent you from getting the swine flu.

And of course, when the swine flu vaccine is available, and for the seasonal influenza vaccine you should make sure that you get vaccinated timely.