The immune system is comprised of numerous organs and cells, which all work together to attack and destroy antigens found inside the body. An antigen is any toxin or microbe, such as a virus, bacterium, or cancer cell, that is dangerous to the body. Immunodeficiency diseases are disorders in which the body’s immune system is either absent or underactive. There are hundreds of different types of immunodeficiency diseases.
Those who have an immunodeficiency disease have a difficult time fighting off viruses and germs. They tend to get sick more easily and for longer periods of time. They are prone to recurrent episodes of the following infections:
Other symptoms of immunodeficiency diseases include inflammation of internal organs, blood disorders (i.e., low platelet count or anaemia), and digestive problems (i.e., nausea, diarrhoea, or weight loss).
Immunodeficiency diseases may be either inherited or acquired. Inherited immunodeficiency diseases are also known as primary immunodeficiency diseases. They are caused by genetic abnormalities and are present since birth. Several primary immunodeficiency diseases are listed below:
Acquired immunodeficiency diseases are caused by factors other than genetics. Acquired immunodeficiency diseases can be the result of infection, malnutrition, cancer, or medication. Acquired immunodeficiency diseases are also known as secondary immunodeficiency diseases. Several secondary immunodeficiency diseases are listed below:
Acquired (or secondary) immunodeficiency diseases can also be caused by certain medications. Corticosteroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), chemotherapy drugs, and immunosuppressants (for people who have had organ transplants) weaken the immune system. Those who take these medications are said to be immunosuppressed.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS)
Caspase Eight Deficiency State (CEDS)
CARD9 Deficiency And Other Syndromes Of Susceptibility To Candidiasis
Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)
Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)
Congenital Neutropenia Syndromes
Hyper-Immunoglobulin E Syndromes
Hyper-Immunoglobulin M Syndromes
Interferon Gamma, Interleukin 12 And Interleukin 23 Deficiencies
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (LAD)
PLCG2-Associated Antibody Deficiency And Immune Dysregulation (PLAID)
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
STAT3 Dominant Negative Disease (STAT3DN)
STAT3 Gain-Of-Function Disease (STAT3 GOF)
Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infections, And Myelokathexis (WHIM) Syndrome
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS)
X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia (XLA)
X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Disease (XLP)
Immunodeficiency Disease Medications
Primary immunodeficiency diseases are caused by genetic mutations. There is only one risk factor: family history. If a family member suffers from a primary immunodeficiency disease, one has a higher likelihood of having one too.
Meanwhile, secondary immunodeficiency diseases are caused by factors other than one’s genetics. Risk factors for developing a secondary immunodeficiency disease include the following:
The immune system naturally weakens as one gets older. One is more likely to develop a secondary immunodeficiency disease as an older adult.
Certain chronic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, can impair the immune system over time. In addition, the medications prescribed for some chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, suppress the immune system.
One is more likely to develop a secondary immunodeficiency disease if they have cancer. Chemotherapy drugs weaken the immune system while certain cancers, such as leukaemia and multiple myeloma, negatively affect the immune system itself.
A poor diet, especially one that lacks protein, can cause an immunodeficiency disease.
A doctor may suspect an immunodeficiency disease after reviewing a patient’s medical history. As stated earlier, a person with an immunodeficiency disease suffers from recurrent infections. Bacteria and viruses that normally do not cause severe infections will cause severe infections in individuals who are immunocompromised.
A diagnosis of an immunodeficiency disease can be confirmed after conducting the following tests:
When one has been diagnosed with an immunodeficiency disease, additional tests (i.e., biopsies of the lymph nodes or bone marrow) may need to be administered to determine the type of immunodeficiency disease.
Complications of immunodeficiency diseases include the following:
The treatment of immunodeficiency diseases consists of the following:
Medications must be used promptly to treat any infections, cancers, or diseases that arise. Antibiotics are used to fight off bacteria and parasites. Antiviral drugs, such as oseltamivir and acyclovir, are used to fight off viral infections. Other medicines, such as interferon, are used to fight off cancers.
HAART is used to treat a HIV infection. With HAART, several antiretroviral drugs are administered by shot every month or every two months. The antiretroviral drugs inhibit the HIV virus from replicating.
Those who are immunocompromised benefit from certain vaccines. The vaccines must be inactivated. This means they do not contain any live viruses or bacteria. Acceptable vaccines include the COVID-19 vaccine, TDaP (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine, inactivated flu vaccine, inactivated polio vaccine, and hepatitis A and B vaccine.
IRT is used to raise the levels of immunoglobulins, or antibodies, in the blood. It is recommended for patients who suffer from recurrent infections despite antibiotic treatment. During IRT, donated plasma is administered intravenously (through an IV) or subcutaneously (through an injection under the skin).
A bone marrow transplant is also called a stem cell transplant. It is performed so that a patient can start producing healthy B cells (a type of white blood cell). Before the transplant, stem cells are collected from the blood of the patient or donor. During the transplant, the stem cells are injected into the patient’s bloodstream.