World PI Week day 3

My plan was to post every day of World Primary Immunodeficiency Week but fatigue has already made me miss a day.

Today I took over the twitter and facebook feeds of Rare Revolution Magazine to let more people know about Primary Immunodeficiencies.

#PrimaryImmunodeficiency said to affect over six million people worldwide.

PIDs are a group of over 300 different conditions that affect how the body’s immune system works.

A large proportion of people affected by a PID have immunoglobulin replacement therapy to help keep them free from infection and are given antibiotics as and when an infection occurs. Some other types of PID may involve taking antibiotic and/or antifungal medicine daily to stave off infection. More specialised treatments and potential cures include bone marrow transplantation, enzyme replacement therapy and gene therapy.

The effects of a PID can be immense. For example, a baby born with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) might not survive more than a couple of years without isolation in a sterile environment until a bone marrow transplant can be carried out. Even for a child with a less severe disorder, prolonged periods of ill-health can disrupt schooling and social contacts.

For an adult, frequent debilitating illnesses can make it more difficult to pursue a career or enjoy family life. There can be psychological problems, too. Feeling isolated, the fear of losing one’s income, or the anguish of caring for a sick child, can take its toll.