In immunodeficiency – colloquially called immunodeficiency – (synonyms: Immunodeficiency, Defective Immunopathy; Susceptibility to Infection; Immunodeficiency; ICD-10-GM D84.9: Immunodeficiency, unspecified) is a disorder of physiologic immunity, i.e., the organism’s response to immunogenic stimuli is inadequate. People suffering from immunodeficiency are more susceptible than normal to infections as well as infectious diseases.
A distinction can be made between congenital (primary) and acquired (secondary) forms of immunodeficiency (see “Causes” below).
In addition, physiological susceptibility to infections must be distinguished from pathological susceptibility to infections. The distinction is of fundamental importance: physiological susceptibility to infection does not usually require special laboratory diagnostics or specific therapy, whereas pathological susceptibility to infection may well conceal a congenital or acquired immunodeficiency.
Frequency peak: Immunodeficiency is particularly common in infants and children.
Frequency peak: Immunodeficiency is particularly common in infants and children.
The prevalence (disease frequency) of primary immunodeficiency (PID) is 2.72 diseases per 100,000 population (in Germany).
Course and prognosis: Extensive diagnostics are required to find the cause or causes of immunodeficiency. If it is possible to classify the immunodeficiency, it is possible to estimate for which infections there is an increased risk. This can be prevented by appropriate measures such as the use of medication. If the susceptibility to infection is disease-related (e.g., in the context of leukemia or HIV infection), the focus is on therapy of the underlying disease.
