Increased risk of infections
As we have discussed, lymphoma compromises your immune system, which is why it is not surprising to find an alteration in the body defenses. This alteration will depend on the type of lymphoma because each one of them attacks different types of pathogens.
Patients with B-cell lymphomas do not have enough normal B cells to fight bacterial infections. These patients usually suffer from several infections in their respiratory tract and urinary system, especially pneumonia and cystitis. Their infections are quite aggressive because they do not have enough body defenses to counter the bacteria.
When lymphoma starts affecting the bone marrow, this tissue may stop creating new neutrophils, a group of cells that form the first line of defense our body has against infections.
Patients with T-cell lymphomas do not have enough normal T cells capable of fighting a viral infection. Thus, these patients would catch a virus quite easily, including mild viruses such as influenza and other severe viruses like tuberculosis. In some cases, certain latent viruses might take the opportunity to reactivate, as in the case of the herpes virus and others.
Recurrent and severe infections should be monitored and studied, and when the disease has reached this phase, it has already changed the levels of energy and general health of the patient, which is why severe causes like AIDS and cancer are likely to be ruled out.
