Immunodeficiency (Immune Deficiency)
Patient is considered to have immunodeficiency when immune system is weakened and does not do the job of protecting the body from variety of bugs like viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungus.
Immunodeficiency Warning Signs in Children
Think of primary immunodeficiency if you have the following warning signs:
- More than eight ear infections in a year
- Two or more sinus infections in a year
- Two or more months of antibiotics with little improvement
- Two or more pneumonias a year
- Failure of infant to gain weight or grow normally
- Recurrent, deep skin or organ abscesses
- Persistent thrush in the mouth or elsewhere on skin after one year of age
- Need to intravenous antibiotics to clear infections
- Two or more deep seated infections
- A family history of primary immunodeficiency
Warning Sign of Immunodeficiency in Adults
- Recurrent ear, nose or throat infections; two or more new infections within one year
- Two or more serious sinus infections within a year
- One pneumonia per year for more than a year
- Recurrent viral infections (colds, herpes, warts, condyloma)
- Infection with normally harmless tuberculosis-like bacteria
- Chronic diarrhea with weight loss
- Infections with atypical severity; recurrent, deep abscesses of the skin or internal organs
- Infections with atypical pathogens, persistent thrush (candidiasis) in mouth or fungal infection on skin
- Recurrent need for intravenous antibiotic to clear infections
- Family history or primary immunodeficiency