What is Immunodeficiency?

Immunodeficiency is when the body’s immune system is not able to fight infections and diseases the way it should. Most cases of immunodeficiency are secondary, meaning they are acquired after birth. However, some people are born with defects in the immune system, which means that they have Primary Immunodeficiency (PID).
Primary Immunodeficiency includes a group of over 200 rare immune system disorders that result in a wide range of severity. PID is usually not diagnosed by physicians since it often presents itself as an ordinary infection. Physicians will usually treat the infection without discovering the underlying cause. Unfortunately, this makes the patient vulnerable to recurring infections which can lead to vital organ damage, physical disability and death. Often a late diagnosis results in secondary diseases (autoimmune), cancers (lymphomas), severe microbial resistance and structural damage.