The purpose of your immune system is to help your body fight off attacks  by viruses, bacteria, fugi, and any other “intruder.” When part of the immune system is either absent or not functioning properly or when it is compromised due to an external factor, it can result in an immune deficiency disease. This is known as immunodeficiency.

So how does our immune system work? Our immune system is composed of white blood cells. These cells are made in the bone marrow and travel through the bloodstream and lymph nodes. They protect and defend against attacks by “foreign” invaders.  Antibodies are proteins that are made in response to infection or immunization and help fight infections. Together, they act like soldiers of your personal body army.

There are 2 types of immunodeficiency – one where the root cause is genetics and the other where external factors play a key role.

Primary Immunodeficiency  Diseases (PIDs) are a type of genetic or hereditary disease. Serious PIDs are usually diagnosed at a very young age, while milder forms can go unnoticed until adulthood.  It occurs most often when your immune system is missing or simply does not function. This creates a pattern of repeated infections, severe infections and/or infections that are unusually hard to cure. These infections may attack the skin, respiratory system, the ears, the brain or spinal cord, or in the urinary or gastrointestinal tracts. They may also target specific organs and be connected to other disorders.

Symptoms of PIDs include:

• Recurrent, unusual or difficult to treat infections
• Poor growth or loss of weight
• Recurrent pneumonia, ear infections or sinusitis
• Multiple courses of antibiotics or IV antibiotics necessary to clear infections
• Recurrent deep abscesses of the organs or skin
• A family history of PID
• Swollen lymph glands or an enlarged spleen
• Autoimmune disease

A secondary immune deficiency diseases (SIDs) occurs when the immune system is compromised due to an external factor. Examples of these external causes include infection (HIV), medications (chemotherapy or systemic steroids), severe burns or malnutrition.

If you feel like your infections linger for a long, unusual or severe amount of time, call Allergy & Asthma Specialists. Our specialists have extensive training and expertise in immunology and can work through your family medical history, as well as conduct tests that will provide a clearer picture of what’s behind your recurrent infections.

Treatment for immunodeficiency diseases involves managing and preventing infections, boosting the immune system, and targeting the source of the immune problem when possible, including the possible use of infusion therapies. We will craft an individualized treatment plan with a goal of getting your immune disorder under control so that you can get back to a full and healthy life. Call us today at 219-513-8923.