For a client with leukopenia, which preventive measure is recommended?

For a client with leukopenia, which preventive measure is recommended?

• A. Avoid all vaccines
• B. Receive the influenza vaccine
• C. Increase iron intake
• D. Exercise to raise WBC

Answer: (B)

Leukopenia lowers the body’s ability to fight infections, so preventing infections becomes especially important. The influenza vaccine is recommended because it helps prevent flu, which can be severe when the immune system is compromised. Most influenza vaccines are inactivated, meaning they cannot cause influenza, and they provide protection without introducing a live virus. This makes vaccination a key preventive measure for someone with low white blood cell counts. Avoiding all vaccines would remove a protective option; increasing iron intake targets red blood cells rather than white blood cells; and exercise does not reliably raise white blood cell counts to a protective level and could be risky if not advised.

Leukopenia lowers the body’s ability to fight infections, so preventing infections becomes especially important. The influenza vaccine is recommended because it helps prevent flu, which can be severe when the immune system is compromised. Most influenza vaccines are inactivated, meaning they cannot cause influenza, and they provide protection without introducing a live virus. This makes vaccination a key preventive measure for someone with low white blood cell counts.

Avoiding all vaccines would remove a protective option; increasing iron intake targets red blood cells rather than white blood cells; and exercise does not reliably raise white blood cell counts to a protective level and could be risky if not advised.