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Immunodeficiency disorders

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Immunosuppression

Symptoms:

The symptoms vary with the specific disorder.

Signs and tests:

Persistent, recurrent infections, or severe infection by microorganisms that do not usually cause severe infection, may be a sign that an immunodeficiency disorder is present. Other signs include:

• Poor response to treatment
• Delayed or incomplete recovery from illness
• Certain types of cancers (such as Kaposi's sarcoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma)
• Certain infections (such as pneumocystis carinii pneumonia or recurrent fungal yeast infections)

Tests used to help diagnose an immunodeficiency disorder may include:

• White blood cell count
• Antibody/immunoglobulin levels
• T (thymus derived) lymphocyte count
• Complement levels or other measurements of immune-response components

References:

Bonilla FA, Bernstein IL, Khan DA, et al. Practice parameter for the diagnosis and management of primary immunodeficiency. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol . 2005 May;94(5 Suppl 1):S1-63.

• Review Date: 5/30/2007
• Reviewed By: Donald Accetta, MD, MPH, President, Allergy & Asthma Care, PC, Taunton, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Networ

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