When your body can't fight off even simple infections because your immune system is broken from birth, that's primary immunodeficiency, a group of inherited conditions where the immune system fails to develop or function properly. Also known as inborn errors of immunity, it's not something you catch—it's something you're born with. Unlike secondary immune problems caused by HIV, chemo, or aging, primary immunodeficiency comes from faulty genes. These aren't rare in total—over 400 types exist—but most people never hear about them until they get sick too often.
Think of your immune system like a security team. In primary immunodeficiency, some guards are missing, others are asleep, or the alarm system doesn't work. Some people lack antibodies, proteins that recognize and neutralize bacteria and viruses, so they get sinus infections, pneumonia, or ear infections every few months. Others can't make T cells, white blood cells that destroy infected or cancerous cells, making them vulnerable to rare viruses or fungal infections. Kids with severe forms often fail to thrive, miss school, or need hospital stays just to get antibiotics.
There’s no cure for most types, but treatments like immunoglobulin therapy, regular infusions of donated antibodies to replace what the body can’t make can turn a life of constant illness into something manageable. Some patients get shots every few weeks. Others take oral meds that boost immune signals. But here’s the catch—some drugs meant to help one condition can accidentally weaken the immune system further. That’s why knowing your exact type matters. A drug safe for asthma might be dangerous for someone with a B-cell deficiency. That’s the kind of detail you’ll find in the posts below.
You’ll see real stories from people managing this condition, how medications interact with their immune systems, and why some treatments work for one person but not another. There’s no one-size-fits-all fix. But with the right info, you can spot red flags early, ask better questions, and avoid dangerous mistakes with meds. This isn’t theory—it’s what happens in clinics, pharmacies, and living rooms every day.
Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is a serious antibody deficiency that causes frequent infections and chronic illness. Learn how immunoglobulin therapy helps manage symptoms, why diagnosis is often delayed, and what new treatments are on the horizon.
