Everyone wants to go through life feeling well and able to live their life to its fullest. For some people, falling ill is a common occurrence. This is especially true for people living with immunodeficiency disorders.
Being diagnosed with an immunodeficiency disorder can have a significant impact on a person’s life. However, there can be a lack of understanding about immunodeficiency disorders, and this can make it even harder for those who live with them. Keep reading to learn more about what an immunodeficiency disorder is, plus the symptoms, causes, types of immunodeficiency disorders, and the treatments that are available.
What is an Immunodeficiency Disorder?
An immunodeficiency disorder refers to a condition that prevents the body from fighting against diseases and infections. Essentially, it means that a person has a weakened immune system that doesn’t function in the way it is expected to.
People with immunodeficiency disorders are less able to fight off infections caused by parasites, bacteria, and viruses. This means that they are not only more susceptible to catching infections, but will also find it harder to fight them off once they have contracted them.
What are the Symptoms of an Immunodeficiency Disorder?
The symptoms of an immunodeficiency disorder can go undetected at first, as in many cases, they are similar to those associated with many other conditions. So, if you’re concerned about any symptoms you may have, it’s important to visit a doctor to receive their professional medical diagnosis.
The symptoms commonly associated with immunodeficiency conditions include frequent infections that recur and are often severe. Examples of the types of recurrent infections someone with an immunodeficiency disorder may experience include:
- Pneumonia
- Thrush
- Skin infections
- Sinus infections
- Colds
- Ear infections
- Yeast infections
- Bronchitis
- Pink eye
- Gingivitis
Other symptoms that people with immunodeficiency disorders sometimes experience include:
- Existing autoimmune conditions, for example, lupus and type 1 diabetes.
- Digestive problems, such as nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
- Unintentional weight loss.
For many people diagnosed with immunodeficiency disorders, frequent infections are the first clue to their condition. Having a weakened immune system can mean that you catch many more infections than other people and fall ill more frequently. After catching an infection, you may find that they take much longer than usual to treat, and then return soon after your treatment is completed.
Types of Immunodeficiency Disorder
There are two main types of immunodeficiency disorders. These include primary or congenital immunodeficiency disorders and secondary or acquired immunodeficiency disorders. There are hundreds of different types of immunodeficiency disorder, and they are all classed as either a primary or secondary immunodeficiency disorders.
Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders
A primary or congenital immunodeficiency disorder is a condition that someone is born with. There are around 500 primary immunodeficiency disorders, and each has a genetic cause.
Examples of primary or congenital immunodeficiency disorders include:
- Activated PK13 Delta Syndrome (APDS)
- Comel-Netherton Syndrome
- Hyper IgM Syndromes (HIGM)
- STK4 Syndrome
- Zap-70 Deficiency
Secondary Immunodeficiency Disorders
A secondary, or acquired, immunodeficiency disorder is a condition that develops after birth. While primary immunodeficiency diseases are caused by a genetic defect, secondary immunodeficiency disorders are triggered by other factors. Triggers for secondary immunodeficiency diseases include illnesses, medications or treatments, malnutrition, or environmental factors.
In some cases, people may develop a weakened immune system after undergoing treatment for cancer. Other conditions that can trigger secondary immunodeficiency disorders include HIV, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, such as kidney disease.
Examples of secondary or acquired immunodeficiency disorders include:
- Secondary Antibody Deficiency (SAD)
- T-Cell Deficiency
- Low Neutrophil Counts
Immunodeficiency Disorder Treatments
While primary immunodeficiency disorders cannot be cured, there are treatments available to help reduce the impact of the disease on the patient’s life and to keep their symptoms under control.
For people with acquired secondary immunodeficiency disorders, treatments may help them to return to their previous immune system function, before the deficiency was triggered. However, in many cases, the person will need to continue long-term treatment as the symptoms of the immunodeficiency disorder may continue to impact them throughout their life.
The type of treatment that you receive will depend on the immunodeficiency disorder you have been diagnosed with.
Treatments usually fit into one of two categories: antibiotics or immunoglobulin therapy.
Antibiotics are prescribed to guard against and treat infections.
Immunoglobulin therapies, such as Cutaquig, can help to replace the antibodies that people with immunodeficiency disorders may be missing. When used continually, immunoglobulin therapy can help to protect the body from the bacteria and viruses which can cause infections to occur.
The process of treating immunodeficiency disorders usually involves a three-pronged approach. The first step is to prevent infections occuring in the first place. This can involve the use of antibiotics in the long-term. Some people are advised to continue taking antibiotics for life to minimize their risk of catching an infection.
The second step is to help the immune system fight infections itself. In this case, patients may be advised to take immunoglobulin medication to replace the antibodies that they are missing. This helps to support the immune system.
The third step is to treat any infections that do occur. Strong antibiotics are usually prescribed for this to prevent the infection taking hold and worsening. If strong antibiotic treatment doesn’t work, hospital treatment is usually required and the person is given IV antibiotics to help control the infection.
Next Steps
Understanding the signs and symptoms of immunodeficiency disorders is important, especially if you think that you or your child may have one.
If you think you may have an immunodeficiency disorder, it’s important to discuss this with your doctor. Receiving a formal diagnosis will help you to understand how best to treat your condition, and will also provide information on situations and activities that you should avoid. For example, staying away from people with infectious conditions.
Diagnosis for immunodeficiency diseases is usually made based on blood tests and a review of your medical history. Don’t forget to write down your symptoms for the doctor’s appointment. There are also support groups available to provide useful information.
