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Immunodeficiency Disorder

The diseases of immunodeficiency occur when an immune system is partially or entirely incapable of functioning as it should, thus compromising its ability to protect a body against infections. Immunodeficiency disorders are sometimes congenital, developed while an organism is still unborn. These disorders are known as primary disorders. Severe cases of primary disorders manifest themselves immediately at birth or within the first year of life. Milder forms of this type of immunodeficiency may not be discovered until puberty or adulthood. Examples of diseases are the rare Severe Combined Immune Disorder (known informally as “bubble boy disease”) and the more common DiGeorge Anomaly.

Immunodeficiencies can also be the results of infections or medications, and, in such cases, are called acquired or secondary disorders. For example, people are “immunosuppressed” when they suffer from immunodeficiencies brought about by corticosteroids or other immune suppressing medication. Chemotherapy commonly causes immunosuppression, since it decreases the availability of white blood cells needed to combat infections. Suppression is important in organ transplants as well, since it reduces the chances of host rejection. Immunodeficiency can be a complication of age, malnutrition, cancer and HIV. It is also a fundamental symptom of AIDS.

Book Resources On Immunodeficiency Disorder

How the Immune System Works by Lauren Sompayrac
Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System by Abul K. Abbas

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