Immune deficiency is a medical condition in which a patient's immune system does not function normally, leaving them vulnerable to infection. A patient with an immunodeficiency is said to be immunodeficient. There are a number of causes and possible treatments for immune system malfunction that can range from immune globulin injections to hospitalization and isolation to minimize exposure to infectious agents.
In some patients, deficiencies in immune function are congenital, and the patient has what is known as a primary immunodeficiency. These conditions are usually caused by the lack of production of certain cells involved in the immune system, as in the case of Bruton's agammaglobulinemia, in which the production of B lymphocytes is insufficient and the patient experiences impaired immune function. Primary immunodeficiency can be inherited or be the result of a spontaneous mutation.
Most commonly, immunodeficiency is acquired as a result of illness or the use of certain medications. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infamously causes immune deficiencies, as do various medications, such as drugs used in chemotherapy. An immunodeficiency state can also be deliberately induced, classically in the case of an organ transplant, in which the patient takes drugs to suppress the immune system and reduce the risk of rejection of the donor organ.
Physicians can diagnose patients as immunocompromised with the use of blood tests and a patient interview. Depending on the cause of the immunodeficiency, treatments may vary. Specific immunoglobulins may be introduced to the patient to address shortages, for example, or the patient may be offered a stem cell transplant. Immunocompromised patients should also take special care to reduce their exposure to potentially infectious agents. This care includes regular handwashing, use of prophylactic antibiotics before surgical procedures, avoiding sick people, and cooking food thoroughly.
In a patient who has an immunodeficiency, a minor infection can become fatal. The patient also often has constant problems with low-grade illnesses as a result of the faulty immune system, which makes it difficult for the patient to fight off the harmful substances to which he is exposed. Family and friends of the patient should observe a number of precautions to avoid making the patient sick, which may include wearing masks around the patient, avoiding contact with the patient while sick, washing hands frequently, and maintaining the patient's environment as clean as possible. .