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You don’t hear about immunodeficiency very often. It is not a condition that affects many people. This rare disease is estimated to occur in 1 in 400 cases. Immune deficiencies are directly related to disorders in the functioning of the immune system. Most often, this ultimately leads to the occurrence of viral and bacterial infections. What are the causes of such shortages? What are primary immunodeficiencies? Is the disease curable?
Primary immunodeficiencies – is it a serious disease?
In a group primary immunodeficiencies there are about 250 diseases whose main common feature is impaired functioning of the immune system, resulting in reduced resistance to various invasive external factors and the incidence of severe infections associated with the respiratory tract. Awareness of the existence of this disease is very low, which means that many patients are undiagnosed, which in turn increases the risk of serious complications.
Immune deficiencies – how to recognize this unusual disease?
Primary immunodeficiencies are genetically determined, which is why they are most often diagnosed in young children, although it also happens that low awareness of the existence of this disease means that it is not diagnosed, and thus the patient learns about it already in adulthood. However, such a situation may occur only in the case of milder diseases. Sometimes immunological tests in children show that deficiency symptoms are present after birth. Then they manifest themselves as facial deformities, heart diseases, problems with the nervous system. Additionally, primary immunodeficiencies characterized by a specific attack of the body on its own immune system. There is then a decrease in platelets, arthritis, vitiligo. The most common symptom, however, are minor infections that appear very often and are difficult to treat – despite taking antibiotics. Therefore, having sinusitis several times in one season may signal a problem with the functioning of the immune system.
How to treat immunodeficiencies?
Any suspicions regarding possible diagnosis primary immunodeficiencies should be verified by detailed examination of the immune system. These are performed in phases – at the first moment, the most important thing is to exclude the most severe forms of PID classified as severe complex immunodeficiency. The basic examination is the complete blood count with a smear. If the cases are more serious, then additional, specialized tests are performed. Blood tests are, admittedly, basic to find out about someone primary immunodeficiencies and as a basic indicator, they decide to take any further steps and carry out tests for individual cell types. Immunology specialists deal with such diagnostics. Primary immunodeficiencies means that the body does not produce enough immunoglobulins or does not produce them at all. The most common method of remediation is the administration of immunoglobulins, thanks to which the expected level of antibodies is obtained. In this way, the desired effect of protecting the body against infections and neutralizing autoimmune symptoms is achieved. Another method that is used for this condition is treatment with antibiotics, which is effective in the fight against infections caused by bacterial infections. Infections are also caused by fungi or viruses – then other types of drugs are used. In the most severe cases immunodeficiencies immunologists refer the patient for a bone marrow transplant. Typically, timely treatment allows to avoid later complications, and regular medication or invasive remedial treatment results in the patient being able to function normally. However, this does not exempt you from the obligation to take medicines for the rest of your life. In addition, patients should exercise caution to reduce the risk of minimizing infection.