After a tumor patient becomes ill, the most worrying thing is "relapse and metastasis", but he often ignores another important issue that seriously affects his health, which is infection!
Many patients do not care about "infection" and think that this is a small thing compared to the tumor itself. "It's just inflammation, it's better to eliminate inflammation if it is severe." But this is not the case. A 2017 study showed that the cancer mortality rate caused by various infections accounts for about 20%!
Why do cancer patients get infected?
low immunity
- patients in the long-term anti-cancer process, insufficient nutritional intake and weak digestion and absorption function, which will lead to a decrease in the body's immunity;
- Radio and chemotherapy will inhibit the patient's bone marrow hematopoietic function, causing leukocytes and neutrophils to decrease, and the immune system will be destroyed;
- In addition, the older the patient is, the worse the immunity of will be.
flora imbalance
During the treatment process, patients with tumors will use a large number of antibiotic due to the need for the condition, surgery, etc., which will cause normal flora imbalance in the patient's body. In addition, the patient's body is relatively weak, Escherichia coli , oral bacteria, etc. will take advantage of the "deficiency", causing opportunistic infection.
surgery, PICC and other wounds
surgery or placement of PICC or infusion port will cause trauma to the patient's body. These trauma create a more "suitable environment" for bacterial invasion, leading to infection, including infection at the wound, systemic infection, etc. What are the symptoms after
infection? The first symptoms of
infection are often fever, and different symptoms will be accompanied by different symptoms depending on the location of the infection. Statistics from domestic scholars have found that the infections of tumor patients are sorted by site. The most common one is lower respiratory tract infection , accounting for about 35.14%; followed by urinary tract infection, accounting for about 14.63%; and secondly, bacteremia , accounting for about 13.41%.
- Lower respiratory tract infection: Common symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness, fever, cough and fatigue.
- Urological system infection: Common symptoms are fever, Frequent urination , urgency, and pain in urine. A few patients will have hematuria .
- Bacteremia: Common symptoms are high fever, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, etc.
Note
It is recommended that tumor patients take their body temperature regularly (such as before going to bed every day). If they find that their body temperature is too high, go to the hospital in time to check blood routine to see if they are infected! What impact does
infection have on tumor patients?
If the above infection cannot be controlled in time, the patient's condition may worsen further.
If lung infection is not relieved, it may cause septic shock and respiratory failure ; bacteremia can cause septic shock, heart failure , acute renal failure, etc., which seriously threaten the patient's life.
In addition, after a few days of continuous fever, normal people often lose one or two pounds, not to mention that patients with already weak tumors, continuous fever will eventually lead to a vicious cycle and their physical condition will become worse and worse.
How should patients with tumors prevent infection?
Nutrition support
3 Immunity is a prerequisite for patients to prevent infection. To achieve this goal, we must: intake of high-nutritional foods, combine meat and vegetables, and ensure the body's nutritional needs.
Patients with radiotherapy and chemotherapy have poor appetite, so they should pay attention to eating less and more meals, and should be given high-vitamin and low-fat foods. Patients with severe illness or eating disorders need to supplement nutrition by using nutritional drugs, intravenous infusion and other methods.
Keep oral clean
During the treatment process, the patient's immunity is reduced and oral ulcers are easily present in the mouth. At this time, patients should choose mouthwash reasonably to prevent and treat fungal infections, such as normal saline or 1% sodium bicarbonate solution, rinse their mouths before bed and after meals, and keep their mouths clean.
Change the dressing on time
Patients with surgical wounds return to the hospital to change the dressing on time; patients with PICC, infusion port, CVC, indwelling needle and other patients, protect their infusion pipelines as required, return to the hospital to change the film, etc.; patients with indwelling urethra catheter, drainage tube , ostomy bags, etc. should also change the tubes and bags on time to avoid infection.
Avoid bacterial infection
- Pay attention to keeping warm at normal times to avoid respiratory infection caused by colds.
- There are fewer places with dense crowds and unventilated places, such as shopping malls and markets.
- When going to the hospital for follow-up visits and during hospitalization, take good protection, wear masks, reduce visits to relatives and friends, and avoid cross infection.
Patients in bed turn over frequently and knock on their backs
For patients with severe symptoms and unable to take care of themselves, long-term bed rest is more likely to be infected. Family members should assist patients to change their bed sheets, quilt covers and clothes frequently, wipe their skin and perineum every day, and help patients turn over and knock on their backs every 2 hours to prevent pressure ulcers and pneumonia and from occurring.
****This article is original by Meizhong Jiahe. If you need to reprint, please contact authorization and indicate the source. ****
Reference
[1] Chinese Tumor Times 2018-02-09
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-