What are 10 Common diseases that cause a Secondary Immunodeficiency

Secondary Immunodeficiency

A secondary immune deficiency occurs when the immune system is compromised due to an environmental factor. In this case, the condition is called a secondary immunodeficiency disease. Often, this outside force can be infectious or related to other illnesses.

Influenza, severe burns or malnutrition are examples of immunodeficiency diseases caused by outside forces. When the body is subject to one of these conditions or when the body receives a bone marrow transplant, the patient’s immune system can become compromised.

It is also called Idiopathic Immunodeficiency or Environmental Immuno-deficiency. As per WHO there are 12 known types of this secondary Immunodeficiency.

10 most common diseases that cause secondary immunodeficiency

Some of the most common factors include: poor diets, stress, lack of sleep, infections, poisons and medicines that suppress the immune system and last but not least bad habits like smoking.

Here is the list of 10 diseases that can cause secondary immunodeficiency:

1. Cancer – cancer itself can be a cause of secondary immunodeficiency, but also therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy can lead to this condition.

2. Diabetes – Diabetes is a disease that occurs when glucose levels (sugar) in the blood are too high. Glucose comes from the food you eat and is your body’s main source of energy. The pancreas produces insulin (a hormone), which lowers glucose levels in the blood. Insulin problems cause glucose to increase in the blood. Therefore, diabetics are more susceptible to infections.

3. Autoimmune diseases – autoimmune disease is when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues in the body. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis are some examples of autoimmune diseases.

4. Tuberculosis – The disease happens mainly in developing countries where it causes around 2 million deaths every year. TB usually affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body such as kidneys, spine and brain. It is an airborne disease spread through droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.

5. Malaria – It is caused by Plasmodium parasites which are spread to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The parasites multiply in the liver.

6. HIV/AIDS – HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus attacks T cells (CD4 cells) that protect your body from infectious diseases and cancer. Your T cells count can help determine if you have HIV infection or AIDS. You can have HIV infection for years without having any symptoms or feeling sick; however, if left untreated, it can develop into AIDS. T cell counts drop when a person has AIDS and he/she will become very susceptible

7. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC).

8. Arthritis – Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are the two most common types in children. RA affects adults more than JIA. Lupus is another type of arthritis that can affect children as well as adults.

9. Chronic Disorders – such as Cystic fibrosis (CF), Sickle cell disease and Thalassemia, Congenital heart defects, Down syndrome, Muscular dystrophy and other neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are all chronic disorders that increase vulnerability to infections because they cause immune deficiency in patients with these disorders.

10. Kidney failure – requires dialysis.

Treatment:

The treatment of secondary immunodeficiency depends on the cause of the condition. The cause can range from poor diets, stress, lack of sleep, infections, poisons and medicines that suppress the immune system and last but not least bad habits like smoking. Treating these causes is essential to getting your immune system back on track.

A few other things you can do to boost your immune system include:

• Reduce stress by learning how to relax with deep breathing or through some form of exercises like yoga or Tai Chi.

• Get plenty of sleep – 7 to 9 hours is recommended for adults so you can allow your body to regenerate. Melatonin may help if you have trouble sleeping.

• Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains and lean proteins. If you think you’re not getting all the nutrients you need from your diet, take a supplement full of vitamins to fill any gaps in nutrition.

• Exercise regularly to improve your overall health and strengthen your cardiovascular system.

• Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke.

• Keep yourself covered with a sweater and coat in colder weather.

• Use insect repellent to avoid bites from insects that carry disease.

• Wash your hands often to avoid spreading germs.

• If you have an infection, wash your hands frequently to keep from spreading it to others.

• Have shots (vaccinations) to prevent diseases like hepatitis, pneumonia, flu, and measles.

As long as there is life, there is the danger of suffering from diseases. Any person interested in his health has to remember about prevention. The best prevention of a disease is a healthy lifestyle.