IMMUNODEFICIENCY

The immune system helps your body protect you from bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Harmful and harmless bacteria are always present in and around your body. White cells protect you from harmful bacteria. Your body organs release lymphocytes. Lymphocytes or white cells are of two types. B type cells release antibodies when your body detects disease, and T-cells are responsible for destroying foreign or abnormal cells. If your body prevents you from fighting these infections and diseases, you have a disorder, namely immunodeficiency. Lack of protein causes a weak immune system.

Types of Immunodeficiency Disorder

There are two types of immunodeficiency disorders: primary and secondary immunodeficiency disorder. Both types are mentioned below with further subcategories:

1.     Primary Immunodeficiency Disorder

Primary Immunodeficiency disorder or PIDDs are genetically transferred disease. There are more than 200 different types of PIDD disorders. If you are suffering from PIDD, different types of white cells or proteins are missing in your blood, and this leads to severe infections. This deficiency may attack the respiratory system, brain, spinal cord, and urinary or gastrointestinal tracts. Some PIDD diseases affect body organs, cells, and tissues. If you find these symptoms, you might have PIDD:

• Loss of weight
• Having problems treating infections
• Lack of growth
• Autoimmune disease

a)    X-linked Agammaglobulinemia ( XLA)

This condition can cause a reduction in B-cells. When B-cells lack in your body, you will be a target of various infections, and the treatment is difficult. Even after you treat these infections, there are chances of getting them again. The most common bacterial infections that you might face are lung infections, ear infections, sinus, and pink eye. If your child is suffering from this immune deficiency, he or she will be fine for 1 to 2 months. He or she gets protection from antibodies that their mother transfers to them while giving birth. Once these antibodies are out of their bodies, they are at risk of infections.

b)    Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)

This disease can cause permanent damage to the respiratory tract because of severe and repeated infections. This deficiency occurs when the body opens to bacteria and viruses and is unable to defend itself. The infections affect the ears and the respiratory tract. In many cases of CVID, diagnosis is not possible at an early stage. If you are suffering from CVID, you might have higher risks of getting cancer. This disease can affect both males and females, and severity may vary from one victim to another.

2.     Secondary Immunodeficiency Disorder

Diseases that come under secondary immunodeficiency disorders are a result of environmental factors. Examples include HIV, malnutrition, and severe burns. These are more common than PIDD. If your immune system is infected by external factors like drugs, metabolic diseases, or environmental conditions, this may cause a deficiency in your body. If your body has limited access to food, you might end up suffering from malnutrition, which can result in decreasing the production of T-cells. Your body is prone to various infections if you lack T-cells, as these cells help protect your body from abnormal cells.

a)    AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is a type of virus that causes AIDS. Your immune system is a defense mechanism for your body. The healthy immune system can control many viruses with the help of T-Cells. HIV targets these cells and causes them to make copies of viruses that damage your immune system. The advanced stage of HIV disease is AIDS. It is a deadly disease that occurs when HIV is not controlled, and the body loses too many T-Cells. That makes your body’s immune system weak, and you are unable to fight infections.

b)    Leukemia

When cancer infects the tissues that form blood, the result is Leukemia. This type of cancer occurs in both children and adults. This affects your bone marrow and the lymphatic system.

Conclusion

Immunodeficiency is a severe condition, and you should take it seriously. Any ignorance in its treatment can cause serious problems. Some of these diseases can be fatal. For a consultation regarding this deficiency, you can contact us.

Call or book an appointment with our NYC Allergist to get help with your condition.

Boyan Hadjiev, MD
30 East 40th Street
(Btwn Madison and Park)
Suite 1200
New York, NY 10016
212-319-5282