Primary Immunodeficiency

Primary immunodeficiency disorders are a group of genetic immune defects where the immune system cannot fight infections, leading to persistent, severe, or unusual infections. They can also cause autoimmunity and dysregulation of the immune system.

It is common for healthy young kids to catch colds, especially when starting daycare or preschool. The Jeffrey Modell Foundation published 10 warning signs to help identify children and adults who may have a primary immunodeficiency (a genetic immune defect someone is born with).

An immune problem should be suspected if there are 2 or more of:

In children:

1. Four or more new ear infections in 1 year.

2. Two or more serious sinus infections in 1 year.

3. Two or more months on antibiotics and not getting better.

4. Two or more pneumonias in 1 year. 

5. Failure of an infant to gain weight or grow normally.

6. Recurrent, deep skin or organ abscesses. 

7. Persistent thrush in the mouth or fungal infection on the skin.

8. Need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections.

9. Two or more deep-seated infections such as a blood infection or meningitis.

10. A family history of primary immunodeficiency.

In adults:

1. Two or more new ear infections in 1 year.

2. Two or more serious sinus infections in 1 year, in the absence of allergy.

3. One or more pneumonia per year for more than 1 year.

4. Chronic diarrhea with weight loss.

5. Recurrent viral infections (colds, warts, herpes).

6. Recurrent need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections.

7. Recurrent, deep skin or organ abscesses. 

8. Persistent thrush in the mouth or fungal infection on skin or elsewhere.

9. Infection with normally harmless tuberculosis-like bacteria. 

10. A family history of primary immunodeficiency.

http://www.info4pi.org/library/educational-materials/10-warning-signs-international