For most people, the common cold is rarely more than a minor inconvenience; however, for patients with PIDD the common cold can be a life-threatening event. In a person with a normal, healthy immune system, the immune system protects them from infection. In people with PIDD, the immune system is either absent or does not function properly. This causes them to be more susceptible to infection, and when they do get infection, they are not able to fight it off.
How does a person know when it is a typical infection or something more serious such as a primary immune deficiency? According to the Primary Immune Deficiency Foundation, the warning signs of PIDD are:
- Recurrent - the infection keeps coming back
- Persistent - won't clear up, or clears very slowly
- Severe - requires hospitalization or intravenous antibiotics
- Unusual - caused by an uncommon organism
- Runs in the Family - others in your family a similar susceptibility to infection
If the answer to any of these questions is Yes, then it is important to check with your physician for the possibility of a primary immune deficiency.
Early diagnosis and treatment is necessary to ensure a good quality of life. With proper diagnosis and treatment, patients can live full and independent lives; however, without this, patients can develop serious and debilitating illnesses.
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