Primary Immune deficiencies (PID) are conditions where the body’s immune system is missing or not working properly. Primary immune deficiency are often caused by genetic conditions and therefore run in families, however some types don’t have to be hereditary.  

The most common primary immune deficiency is CVID (Common Variable Immune Deficiency) a condition where a person does not make enough antibodies to fight infection. People with CVID often get recurrent and prolonged sinus infections, ear infections and pneumonias. They can also get autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancers such as lymphoma.   

Other primary immune deficiencies include: 

• Selective IgA Deficiency 
• Agammaglobulinemia (X-linked and autosomal recessive) 

• Complement Deficiencies 
• Chronic Granulomatous Disease 
• Hyper IgE Syndrome 
• IgG subclass deficiency 
• Specific Antibody Deficiency 

• Severe Combined Immune Deficiency  
• Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome 
• Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia 
• Many others 

People with primary immune deficiencies often infections with the following features: 

Infections are severe, often requiring hospitalization or intravenous antibiotics 

Infections are persistent, taking a long time to clear up 

Infections are unsual, caused by uncommon organisms that most people would not get infected with. 

Infections are recurrent, and keep coming back over and over again. 

An allergist/immunologist can help people with primary immune deficiencies stay healthy.