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  |  Experts  |  Ask the Doctor  |  Infection fighters
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Infection fighters

by Dr Sarah Brewer

question
A year or so ago, I came down with symptoms like tonsillitis, but the nurse I saw was not sure what was wrong - she thought it could be glandular fever. It took me months to feel better and then I caught Asian flu. Basically I feel quite low all the time and if I exert myself, I pick up a cold the next day! I feel tired all the time too, which makes me feel quite down.

answer
Lots of different things can cause recurrent infections and tiredness. These are non-specific symptoms that usually need investigatation to find the underlying cause. For example, you could be anaemic, have an underactive thyroid gland, be under a lot of stress and working too hard, or have chronic fatigue syndrome. Your doctor can examine you and request any necessary tests to rule out obvious potential problems. If all is well, you may wish to consider a supplement such as Siberian ginseng which, as well as helping to boost immunity, also has a beneficial effect on energy levels. Make sure you are eating a healthy diet and consider a multivitamin supplement as a nutritional safety net.
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