My Medication
You may find yourself asking, “Why do I have to take tablets or medicines every day?”.
Taking daily preventative medication is the best way of making sure you don't get infections. Because your white cells don't work properly your body needs extra help to fight off infections. These medicines provide that extra help.
Sometimes the medicines won't quite be enough to fight off the infection. Even if you've taken your medicines really well, every day, you can still get an infection.
However because you've been taking your medicines your body can put up a pretty good defence so the infection shouldn't be so serious and you should be back on your feet faster.
All medication can cause side effects. It is important to contact the doctor if you have any side effects whilst on prescribed medication. They will help you decide whether or not your medication should be changed.
Antibiotics (medicine for bacterial infections)
The antibiotic that most people with CGD take for preventing infection, is co-trimoxazole (also called Septrin). Co-trimoxazole provides protection against a number of infections that can cause problems in CGD and most people find that they can take it okay.
Antifungals (medicine for fungal infections)
The antifungal medication currently recommended to prevent infection in CGD is itraconazole (also called Sporonox). It helps prevent infections caused by a fungus called Aspergillus, the infection people with CGD are most likely to get. Most people get on okay with itraconazole but a few find that it gives them stomach pain or diarrhoea. If this is a problem it can often be sorted out by changing how the medicine is taken.
I'm feeling okay. Why should I bother with my medication?
Perhaps it is ages since you were ill and you can hardly remember what it felt like. Or perhaps you are feeling fine. Even so, it is important to keep taking your prescribed medication. They are helping to keep you well (It's worth remembering that you have probably been well because of your medicines!).
The problem with CGD is that it is hard to predict when an infection might happen, or if it does, how serious it will be. If you stop taking your medicines, sooner or later you will develop an infection of one sort or another, which will interrupt your plans and stop you enjoying the things you usually do. It may be tempting to skip your medication, especially if you're fed up with having CGD and think this will help you 'forget' you've got it. But don't – these medicines will help you to lead as normal a life as possible.
Preventing infections
Preventing infections in CGD is important for a number of reasons. It will:
• help to keep you feeling fit and well
• keep you out of hospital
• minimise the chances of infections causing damage that will affect your future health. For example, having lots of chest infections can cause lung scarring and lead to breathing problems in the future.
How do I know if I have an infection?
Being wise to the signs of infection helps you to recognise it quickly. This means that it can be treated more easily and that you will be back on your feet faster. Look out for:
• Warm, tender or swollen areas
• Lumps
• Sores with pus or rashes
• Cough or pain in your chest
• Problems with breathing
• Diarrhoea that doesn't go away after a couple of days
• Frequent or persistent headaches
• Being very sweaty at night
• Losing your appetite
• Losing weight – sometimes you notice this because your clothes feel suddenly loose on you
• Vomiting shortly after eating on a more or less consistent basis
• Pain or difficulty on passing urine
• Difficulty swallowing food
and...
A fever
Having a fever or temperature is a sign that the body is trying to fight off an infection. You have fever if the thermometer says your temperature is 38 degrees or above (Have you got a thermometer at home? Make sure you know how to use it!).
Having a fever generally makes you feel pretty miserable. You might feel as if you are 'burning up', feeling 'shivery' or alternately hot and cold. Taking paracetamol will help you feel a bit better and can take your fever away for a few hours but this doesn't mean that the reason you have a temperature has gone away! So it's okay to take some paracetamol to make you feel better but make sure you get things checked out too!
If you're not sure if you have any of these symptoms or what they mean, ask for help. Talk it through with your Mum or Dad, see your doctor or call the CGD Clinical Nurse Specialist. You can also email the CGD nurse – that's sometimes a bit easier than having to talk on the phone or face-to-face.
This page has been reviewed by our Medical Advisory Panel. December 2012.
More information
Our website contains a wealth of information to help and support you. If you are not able to find the answer to a specific question, feel free to contact us using the form at the bottom of the page or by emailing or calling us. We are here to help.