Immune Supressed

[maybehope]

I work in a Primary school. Scarlett fever and Slap cheek are doing the rounds. I am taking 6 Mycophenolates, Prednisolone and Hydroychloroquine daily so am immune supressed. Should I avoid school until the infected are better?

[PMRpro]

I would have thought it made sense - but really it is your doctors who you should ask. Have they never provided any advice on how to proceed in such a situation?

I really does sound like going into the lion's den doesn't it!

[maybehope in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your reply. Yes I thought so too so have contacted the Specialist nurse who advised me to stay away but my surgery was useless!

[Silvergilt in reply to maybehope]

In most cases GPs are going to be rather out of the loop as this is specialist stuff, not general. So yes if your specialist nurse says no, I'd go with that. You're a brave soul, primary schools and nursery schools are scary for germs!

[PMRpro in reply to maybehope]

Should have said - specialist nurse is probably the best but forgot Mea culpa!!! But impressive you got to speak to someone on a Saturday!!

[Buffy14]

Definitely avoid you are at high risk from infection when immunosuppressed . I would advise you see an immunologist regarding your situation as they can offer you vaccines against a lot of things , I almost died from Meningitis in 2011 and one of my consultants asked an immunologist to see me afterwards , I was given all sorts of vaccines not just against meningitis but lots of things I even had to have the hip vaccine that they give to children , I had very little immunity to anything in my blood and the first lot of vaccines didn't work for some things they had to be redone . Working with children is risky for example chicken pox must be avoided if possible when you have lupus.

[field]

I have been am told by my rheumatologist that infections are the highest cause of mortality in lupus disease. I am currently on high dose steroids and I have to carry a card warning me to stay away from those with an infectious disease and those with chicken pox or shingles.

need to be very careful. infections can cause irreversible damage.

[maybehope]

Thank you for all of your replies. I do carry a blue warning card but was not sure about Scarlet fever. I have never seen immunologist. How do I get to see one as my surgery really are useless.