Immunodeficiency Disease: Disorders types, symptoms, causes, and treatment

Immunodeficiency Disease: Disorders types, symptoms, causes, and treatment

Immunodeficiency Disease occurs when the immune system does not function effectively or when a part of the immune system is missing or reduced in a person. When this happens, the person loses his ability to fight against viruses, bacteria, or other parasites and catches infections quickly.

Types of Immunodeficiency diseases:

Immunodeficiency diseases can be of two types primary and secondary.

1. Primary Immunodeficiency diseases are caused due to genetic reasons when a person is born with the disorder. Some examples are common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and X- linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA).
2. Secondary Immunodeficiency diseases are those that are acquired and not hereditary. They occur when the immune system is weakened due to reasons, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or diabetes. Some examples of secondary Immunodeficiency diseases are AIDS, viral hepatitis, multiple myeloma.

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Symptoms of Immunodeficiency diseases: The symptoms vary according to the type of disorder. Some of the common symptoms are:

• Diarrhea
• Colds
• Pneumonia
• Sinus infections.

Causes of Immunodeficiency diseases: The immune system, which comprises white blood cells, defends our body. These cells, manufactured in the bone marrow, protect our bodies against bacteria, viruses, and germs. Antibodies, which are proteins, are made by the immune system to defend our body whenever there is an infection.

1. Primary Immunodeficiency diseases: In Primary Immunodeficiency diseases, the antibodies are not able to perform correctly, or they are less in number, or completely absent. This leads to repeated infections that may be incurable and very severe.
2. Secondary Immunodeficiency diseases:

• Secondary Immunodeficiency diseases occur as the result of some severe disorders that last for an extended period, such as cancer.
• People having diabetes can have secondary Immunodeficiency diseases as their high levels of blood sugar do not allow the white blood cells to perform efficiently.
• They may also happen as an after-effect of using a drug for a prolonged period.
• Low nutrition can also cause this disorder.
• Immunosupressants such as corticosteroids used in diseases such as arthritis can also cause this disorder.
• Radiation or chemotherapy used in cancer patients is one of the causes.

Diagnosis of Immunodeficiency Disease: If the doctor suspects Immunodeficiency Disease, then he will undertake specific tests after conducting a physical examination and learning the history of the patient. The tests include:

• A blood test is taken, in which the complete blood count is taken to examine the number of white blood cells and to detect any abnormality present.
• A skin test may be done in the case of a T – cell abnormality.
• A biopsy may be taken to find out the type of Immunodeficiency Disorder.
• If the doctor suspects defects in the immune system, he will suggest genetic testing.

Treatment of Immunodeficiency Disease:

The treatment of Immunodeficiency Disease consists of:

1. Prevention of infections: This can be done in the following ways:

• The patients may be administered with antibodies from healthy people who have a proper immune system to reduce the occurrence of bacterial infections.
• They have to eat only cooked food.
• They should drink only purified water.
• They will have to avoid getting infected from others.
• They have to follow strict personal hygiene methods.

1. Vaccination method: Sometimes, vaccination is used to treat secondary Immunodeficiency Disease if the disorder does not hamper the production of antibodies.
2. Treatment of infections: The patient is treated with antibiotics when there are symptoms of infections like a fever. Antibiotics may also be administered to patients who are about to undergo surgery or any dental process so that they do not develop any infection. Sometimes antiviral drugs may be given in the case of Immunodeficiency diseases, which increase the possibility of getting viral infections. These drugs may be for infections such as chickenpox or influenza.
3. Immune Globulin treatment: Patients who have developed this disorder on account of missing or reduced antibodies can be administered immune globulin through their veins or under their skins as a replacement.
4. Stem cell transplantation method: Some of the more severe Immunodeficiency diseases can be treated with stem cell transplantation using the stem cells from blood or bone marrow.
5. Thymus tissue transplantation: In some cases, doctors undertake transplantation of thymus tissue.
6. Gene therapy: Gene therapy has sometimes effectively treated adenosine deaminase deficiency and severe combined immunodeficiency.

Immunodeficiency Diseases can be treated effectively by visiting a specialist who will diagnose what type of disorder you are suffering from and recommend a line of treatment best suited for you. You can learn more about Immunodeficiency Diseases at https://www.srlworld.com/blog/.