What is Primary Immunodeficiency?

People living with primary immunodeficiency disease (PID, sometimes known as PI or PIDD) have an immune system that is not working properly, beginning at birth. For people living with PI, infections may not go away or can come back often, even with the use of antibiotics. Infections may be common, severe, long-lasting, or hard to cure, but once correctly diagnosed and treated, people with PI can live full and active lives.

What is a secondary immunodeficiency?

Sometimes, due to external factors (those not caused by genetics) people develop what’s known as a secondary immunodeficiency (SID). Just like with a primary immunodeficiency, the outcome can be a life marked by infections and colds that just don’t go away. As a result, patients may face repeated rounds of antibiotics and hospitalization for treatment. SID is much more common than primary (genetic) immunodeficiency.