Patients that are frequently or constantly ill may have a low functioning immune system. An infant will have maternal antibody protection for the first three months of life, after which the child may suffer up to six colds a year. From seven years of age through adulthood most individuals have acquired antibodies to the majority of infections and will rarely need to see a doctor for infections, or to receive antibiotics.
Primary Immunodeficiency is a diagnosis related to the immune system. Patients with this diagnosis will typically suffer with recurrent sinusitis, bronchial or lung infections, severe irritable bowel, or blood dyscrasias like anemias and clotting disorders. This disease may take several years to diagnose, while the patient will suffer with fatigue, chronic infections, frequent doctor visits and prescribed many antibiotics but unfortunately never stay healthy.
This disease is thought to be genetic as well as environmental influence and can develop or appear at any age, infancy to adulthood.
Diagnosis is made by evaluating the immune system which includes the following components: CBC, Diptheria titers, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Tetanus titers, Immunoglobulin G, A, M and E.
If the pneumoccocal titers are low, a pneumovaccine (# 23 valent) is given and the titers should increase by 2 to 4 times. If not then this points towards a possible Immunodeficiency.
If the immunoglobulin G, A, M levels are low, this also points towards this diagnosis.
Treatment involves assuring quality sleep, eating right and exercise in moderation. If the problem is severe then more intervention may be required, such as frequent antibiotics, and even intravenous immunoglobulin G infusions may be recommended. We are experienced in managing patients with immunodeficiency.
Please feel free to email us or to set up an appointment to help determine if an immune deficiency may be a possibility.
The following is information actually used with permission from the Jeffrey Modell Foundation.
Warning signs of a primary immunodeficiency:
- Four or more ear infections in a year.
- Two or more serious sinus infections per year
- Two or more months of antibiotics within a year.
- Two or more pneumonias within a year.
- Failure of an infant to gain weight or grow normally.
- Recurrent, deep skin or organ abscesses.
- Persistent thrush in mouth or fungal infection on skin.
- Need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections.
- Two or more deep seated infections including septicemia.
- A family history of primary immunodeficiency.
Warning signs of Primary Immunodeficiency in adults include:
- Two or more new ear infections within one year.
- Two or more new sinus infections within one year.
- One pneumonia per year for more than one year.
- Chronic diarrhea with weight loss.
- Recurrent viral infections (colds, herpes, warts, condyloma).
- Recurrent need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections.
- Recurrent, deep abscesses of the skin or internal organs.
- Persistent thrush or fungal infection on skin or elsewhere.
- Infection with normally harmless tuberculosis-like bacteria.
- A family history of primary immunodeficiency.
A good source of information for primary immune deficiency diseases is the Jeffrey Model Foundation, and the Immune Deficiency Foundation.
