About the Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases

Approximately 120 different primary immunodeficiency disorders have now been described. Most of these cause recurrent or unusual infections and a range of other medical complications in affected persons. Most are rare but collectively represent a very important and diverse group of diseases, requiring specialised care and treatment.

PID are inherited conditions. This means the defect is present in birth. Nevertheless, symptoms and signs of illness may not develop until adult life, commonly presenting with recurrent bacterial infections in the chest and nasal airways. Diagnosis will then often depend on a high level of suspicion by the patient or their medical carers. The specific mutation is known in only some cases.

PID are different from acquired diseases of the immune system such as HIV/AIDS. In acquired cases patients are born with a normal immune system.

The Australasian Society for Clinical Immunology and Allergy(ASCIA) recognises a vital need to have a comprehensive information about how these illness affect people living in Australia and New Zealand.