Question

define immunedeficiency

Answer 1

                IMMUNODEFICIENCY

Immunodeficiency disorders occur when the body's immune response is reduced or absent.

Immunodeficiency disorders prevent your body from fighting infections and diseases. This type of disorder makes it easier for body to catch viruses and bacterial infections.

Immunodeficiency disorders are either congenital or acquired. A congenital, or primary, disorder is one you were born with. Acquired, or secondary, disorders get later in life. Acquired disorders are more common than congenital disorders

IMMUNE SYSTEM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ORGANS:

spleen

tonsils

bone marrow

lymph nodes

These organs make and release lymphocytes. These are white blood cells classified as B cells and T cells. B and T cells fight invaders called antigens. B cells release antibodies specific to the disease your body detects. T cells destroy foreign or abnormal cells

ANTIGENS THAT B AND T CELLS MIGHT NEED TO FIGHT OFF INCLUDE:

bacteria

viruses

cancer cells

parasites

DIFFERENT TYPES OF IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDERS

1. Primary immunodeficiency disorders include:

• X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA)
• common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)
• severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), which is known as alymphocytosis or “boy in a bubble” disease

      2. Secondary immunodeficiency disorders

• severe burns
• chemotherapy
• radiation
• diabetes
• malnutrition

Examples of secondary immunodeficiency disorders include:

AIDS

cancers of the immune system, like leukemia

immune-complex diseases, like viral hepatitis

multiple myeloma (cancer of the plasma cells, which produce antibodies)

THE FOLLOWING DISEASES AND CONDITIONS ARE LINKED TO PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDERS:

• ataxia-telangiectasia
• Chediak-Higashi syndrome
• combined immunodeficiency disease
• complement deficiencies
• DiGeorge syndrome
• hypogammaglobulinemia
• Job syndrome
• leukocyte adhesion defects
• panhypogammaglobulinemia
• Bruton’s disease
• congenital agammaglobulinemia
• selective deficiency of IgA
• Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

SIGNS OF AN IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDER

Each disorder has unique symptoms that can be frequent or chronic. Some of these symptoms can include:

• pinkeye
• sinus infections
• colds
• diarrhea
• pneumonia
• yeast infections

HOW ARE IMMUNE DISORDERS DIAGNOSED?

If doctor thinks might have an immunodeficiency disorder, they will want to do the following:

ask about medical history

perform a physical exam

determine white blood cell count

determine T cell count

determine immunoglobulin levels

Vaccines can test immune system response in what is called an antibody test.doctor will give a vaccine. Then they will test blood for its response to the vaccine a few days or weeks later.

HOW ARE IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDERS TREATED?

The treatment for each immunodeficiency disorder will depend on the specific conditions. For example, AIDS causes several different infections. doctor will prescribe medications for each infection. And may be given an antiretroviral to treat and HIV infection if appropriate.

Treatment for immunodeficiency disorders commonly includes antibiotics and immunoglobulin therapy. Other antiviral drugs, amantadine and acyclovir, or a drug called interferon are used for treatment of the viral infections caused by immunodeficiency disorders.

If bone marrow isn’t producing enough lymphocytes, doctor might order a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant.

HOW CAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDERS BE PREVENTED?

Primary immunodeficiency disorders can be controlled and treated, but they can’t be prevented.

Secondary disorders can be prevented in a number of ways. For example, it’s possible to prevent from getting AIDS by not having unprotected sex with someone who carries HIV.