Lupus and Infections: How Infections Trigger Flares and What You Can Do
Explore why infections trigger lupus flares, common culprits, prevention tips, and how to manage infections safely for people living with lupus.
Infection Risk in Lupus: What You Need to Know
When you have lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own tissues. Also known as systemic lupus erythematosus, it doesn’t just cause joint pain or rashes—it quietly weakens your ability to fight off germs. That’s why infection risk in lupus is one of the biggest daily concerns for patients and doctors alike.
Your immune system, already confused and overactive in lupus, gets further suppressed by common treatments like azathioprine, an immunosuppressant used to calm autoimmune flares and deflazacort, a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation but also lowers your body’s defenses. These drugs help control lupus symptoms, but they also make you more vulnerable to colds, urinary infections, pneumonia, and even rare fungal or viral illnesses. It’s not that you’re "weak"—it’s that your defense system is being deliberately turned down.
Some people with lupus get infections more often because their disease itself damages organs like the kidneys or skin, which normally act as barriers to germs. Others are at risk simply because they’re older, have diabetes, or take multiple medications at once. The truth? Infection is the leading cause of hospitalization and death in lupus patients—not the disease itself, but what happens when your body can’t respond to it.
You don’t need to live in fear, but you do need to be smart. Simple steps like washing hands often, avoiding crowds during flu season, staying up to date on vaccines (except live ones), and spotting early signs of infection—like low-grade fever, unusual fatigue, or a cough that won’t quit—can make a huge difference. Many patients miss these signals because they’re used to feeling tired or achy from lupus. But a new fever? That’s not normal.
The posts below give you real, practical insights from people who’ve lived through this. You’ll find comparisons of immunosuppressants like azathioprine and deflazacort, see how they stack up against alternatives, and learn what actually works to reduce infection risk without making lupus worse. There’s no fluff—just clear, no-nonsense info on how to protect yourself while managing your condition.
