What is immunodeficiency?
Immunodeficiency is the failure of the immune system to defend the body and protect it adequately from infection, due to the absence, malfunctioning, or insufficiency of some component, process, or substance.
Immunodeficiency, or immunodeficiency disorders, can be primary, (congenital), or acquired. Immunodeficiency lowers the guard of the immune system, weakening the body’s defenses and allowing infections as well as other health troubles easier access to all its systems.
For people born with immunodeficiency disorders, their bodies are genetically missing some immune defenses, or their immune system is not fully functional. This can present in a mild way that may even go unnoticed until there is a flare-up of some kind, or in more severe cases, can be detected in babies shortly after they are born. Symptoms can range from a tendency to colds, earaches, and congestion, or a higher incidence of warts and eczema, to the risk of rare cancers, hemorrhage, and other serious illnesses.
Immunodeficiency can also be acquired. The most well-known acquired immunodeficiency disorder is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) / AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
The most common causes of immunodeficiency worldwide are HIV, malnutrition, and unsanitary conditions. However, about one in 500 patients has an innate or primary immunodeficiency.
Some of the autoimmune disorders that weaken the immune system include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), and psoriasis.
Certain autoimmune disorders cause the body to attack itself. These conditions can also cause the immune system itself to be less effective, which results in immunodeficiency.
Many causes of immunodeficiency are acquired, as the result of another condition. These acquired immunodeficiencies are most commonly linked to malnutrition, stress following surgery, diabetes, cancer of the lymph nodes, anesthesia influences, or chronic viral infections.
When these conditions cause an acquired immunodeficiency, the first step is to seek treatment for the condition that caused the immune disorder. Then it is possible to treat the immunodeficiency to make sure that your body is able to fight off infections and viruses.
Understanding immune system-related symptoms and features.
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
The immune system is made up of a very complex network of cells and proteins that defend and protect the body against infection. Essentially the immune system is able to remember each and every germ it has defeated before, so should that same germ attack again the body is ready to respond quickly.
Symptoms that affect the immune system may impact its ability to fight infections and trigger other medical and health conditions as a result. This can lead to a compromised immune system, recurrent infections, and an impact on other parts, systems, and functions of the body.
What should I do next?
In some instances, immunodeficiency may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Immunodeficiency, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.