Immune Deficiency Disorders: Symptoms Make an Appointment Refer a Patient Ask a Question Reviewed by Jessica Galant-Swafford, MD (February 01, 2022) The most apparent sign of an immune deficiency disorder is frequent or unusual infections. The number of infections vary in healthy people depending on several factors such as stress level, exposure to children in school, and the virulence of common viruses. This makes it harder to assess whether a person is experiencing an excessive number of infections. The list shown below was adapted from the Jeffrey Modell Foundation’s 10 Warning Signs of a Primary Immunodeficiency (PID). Individuals who have experienced two or more of the following symptoms may have a primary immunodeficiency and should see an immunology specialist to evaluate for this: Adults Two or more new ear infections within 1 year Two or more new sinus infections within 1 year, in the absence of allergy One pneumonia per year (radiographically proven) for more than 1 year Chronic diarrhea with weight loss Recurrent viral infections (colds, herpes, warts, condyloma) Recurrent need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections Recurrent, deep abscesses of the skin, lymph nodes or internal organs Persistent thrush or fungal infections on skin or elsewhere Infections with tuberculosis-like bacteria (also known as Nontuberculous Mycobacteria) A family history of primary immunodeficiency Children Four or more ear infections within 1 year Two or more severe sinus infections within one year Two or more months of antibiotic treatment with little effect Two or more pneumonias per year Insufficient weight gain or growth delay Recurrent deep skin or organ abscesses Persistent thrush in mouth or fungal infection on skin Need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections Two or more deep-seated infections A family history of a primary immunodeficiency Immune Deficiency Disorders: Diagnosis Clinical Trials For more than 100 years, National Jewish Health has been committed to finding new treatments and cures for diseases. Search our clinical trials.
Reviewed by Jessica Galant-Swafford, MD (February 01, 2022) The most apparent sign of an immune deficiency disorder is frequent or unusual infections. The number of infections vary in healthy people depending on several factors such as stress level, exposure to children in school, and the virulence of common viruses. This makes it harder to assess whether a person is experiencing an excessive number of infections. The list shown below was adapted from the Jeffrey Modell Foundation’s 10 Warning Signs of a Primary Immunodeficiency (PID). Individuals who have experienced two or more of the following symptoms may have a primary immunodeficiency and should see an immunology specialist to evaluate for this: Adults Two or more new ear infections within 1 year Two or more new sinus infections within 1 year, in the absence of allergy One pneumonia per year (radiographically proven) for more than 1 year Chronic diarrhea with weight loss Recurrent viral infections (colds, herpes, warts, condyloma) Recurrent need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections Recurrent, deep abscesses of the skin, lymph nodes or internal organs Persistent thrush or fungal infections on skin or elsewhere Infections with tuberculosis-like bacteria (also known as Nontuberculous Mycobacteria) A family history of primary immunodeficiency Children Four or more ear infections within 1 year Two or more severe sinus infections within one year Two or more months of antibiotic treatment with little effect Two or more pneumonias per year Insufficient weight gain or growth delay Recurrent deep skin or organ abscesses Persistent thrush in mouth or fungal infection on skin Need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections Two or more deep-seated infections A family history of a primary immunodeficiency Immune Deficiency Disorders: Diagnosis