Treatment of immunodeficiency

Methods of treating immunodeficiency

Immunodeficiency treatment depends on the cause, that is, on the nature of the disorders and health problems associated with it. It also depends mainly on preventing infection with various infections and controlling them if they occur. In the event that the patient does not suffer from any immune diseases, but complains In case of frequent infections such as influenza and others, it is advised to see a doctor to check the integrity of the immune system, in addition to benefiting from the tips that will be mentioned later.

Here are the ways to treat diseases that cause immunodeficiency:

Treatment of primary immunodeficiency 

Here is a statement of some of the available treatments for primary immunodeficiency diseases:

Immunoglobulin therapy

This type of treatment relies on compensating for the deficiency of antibodies in the patient, as these antibodies are produced naturally in healthy people from B cells, but for people with immunodeficiency, they can be compensated by injecting them under the skin once. One every week or every month, or intravenously once a month.

Stem cell transplant

Stem cells can be obtained from the bone marrow, known as bone marrow, or from blood, such as umbilical cord blood, and these cells can be cultured in people with some types of immunodeficiency disorders, but this type of treatment is often resorted to only for severe disorders, and is not It is available only in major medical centers, and it is worth noting that it requires a compatibility or biological match in the tissues between the donor and the patient, and despite this, the success of the stem cell transplant is not guaranteed.

Gene therapy

Gene therapy relies on correcting the disordered genes that cause immunodeficiency in the patient by implanting the healthy gene inside the cells to replace the disordered gene. It is one of the modern therapeutic methods that faces many limitations and obstacles, but it is considered one of the most promising therapeutic methods in the future.

Treatment of secondary immunodeficiency

There are many reasons that can lead to secondary or acquired immunodeficiency, such as the use of drugs known to reduce immunity as one of their side effects and the incidence of some health problems and diseases such as AIDS, severe nutritional deficiency, and others, and therefore the treatment of secondary immunodeficiency depends on the treatment of the disease or health problem. causing the condition.

For example, AIDS is treated with antiretroviral drugs, which are used on a daily basis to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others, by reducing the viral load, which is a term that expresses the percentage of the virus present in the blood. Low viral load in the blood to a point where the presence of the virus cannot be detected - as is the case when using these drugs - the infected person can live his life normally without transmitting the virus to a healthy partner who does not carry the disease, although these drugs do not cure the infection completely, it helps infected people to live longer and in better health.

How to treat acute infection in immunocompromised patients

Severe infection that an immunocompromised person may suffer from can be controlled by identifying the cause of the infection as follows:

• Severe viral infection: some types of antiviral drugs are used.

• Severe bacterial infection: bacteria culture is used to determine the antibiotic appropriate to eliminate the infection.

In some cases, the person may need surgery, such as surgery to drain the pus-filled abscess caused by the infection.

prevention of infection

Maintain personal hygiene

Regular hand washing with soap and water is one of the most important methods used to prevent infection, especially respiratory infections and diarrhea. In the absence of soap and water, they can be replaced with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains no less than 60% alcohol.

It is also recommended to wash hands before practicing some actions during which the risk of transmission of infection between individuals increases, including the following:

• Before and after touching an open wound.
• After using the toilet, or after changing a baby's diaper.
• After sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose.
• Before, during, and after food preparation.
• before eating.
• After touching the trash.
• After touching an animal, its food, or its droppings.
• Before and after providing care to a patient, especially if he has diarrhea or vomiting.

Wash and cook well

There are some cases in which the immunity of the infected person decreases at a high rate, such as in some people who are undergoing cancer treatment. In these cases, the doctor may request that some additional measures be taken to prevent infection with a type of infection transmitted through food, and these measures include the following:

• Avoid eating undercooked foods such as meat, fish, and eggs.
• Don't delay in storing food in the food cooler.
• Wash all kinds of vegetables and fruits before peeling them.
• Make sure to use juices and pasteurized dairy products.

Avoid contact with patients

Those with immunodeficiency should avoid mixing with patients such as those with a common cold, due to the ease of transmission of infection from these people to others through droplets that spread when coughing and sneezing, and care must be taken to avoid approaching infected people if they meet them, and avoid hugging, kissing and sharing food And drink with them.

Sterilization of household items 

There are many methods that can be followed to sterilize the various tools and surfaces of the house, and it is sufficient to use hot water and soap to clean most parts of the house. As for areas exposed to a higher percentage of germs such as the kitchen and bathroom, it is preferable to use some more efficient disinfectants, such as disinfectants available in the market, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide.

To ensure good sterilization, it is possible to clean with soap and water, then use a disinfectant. It is also recommended to leave the disinfectant on the surface for a period ranging between 3-5 minutes, then rinse and clean the surface or wipe it with a dry towel. It should be noted that it is necessary to avoid mixing vinegar with ammonia or hydrogen peroxide. Or with one of the other commercial disinfectants, in addition to avoiding inhaling one of the commercial disinfectants, and making sure to wear gloves and open the windows of the house when using it, and dry the surfaces well before using them, especially before preparing food.

Consult a doctor about vaccinations

In general, doctors advise all healthy people to obtain the necessary vaccinations at the specified time, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a vaccination schedule that everyone must follow, as these vaccines may prevent infection with some types of infection. dangerous diseases.

And for people with immunodeficiency, the doctor may advise avoiding or postponing some vaccinations, and in the event that the immunodeficiency is caused by a temporary problem, the person will be able to obtain the vaccines that have been postponed after restoring the normal activity of the immune system, and examples of vaccinations that may be requested The doctor should avoid the following:

1. Rabies vaccine.
2. Flu vaccine.
3. The triple vaccine consists of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. 
4. The quadruple vaccine contains the triple vaccine vaccines plus the chickenpox vaccine.

Avoid stress

Anxiety and psychological tension contribute to a decrease in immunity, especially the chronic psychological tension that accompanies a person for long periods, even if it is not severe. Therefore, controlling or avoiding stress contributes to raising the efficiency of the immune system. Among the methods used to control psychological stress, we can mention the following: Come:

• Determine the source of anxiety and psychological stress in a person's life.
• Trying to change the negative view into a positive one about some topics that affect the affected person.
• Exercising, favorite exercises: swimming, riding a bicycle, and walking.
• Share and express feelings with others.
• Reconciliation between work time, rest, enjoyment, and family and social life.
• Ensuring the formation of good friendships because of their role in relieving stress.

Practice sport Training regularly

Practice sport Training regularly contributes to stimulating the production of endorphin hormones, which in turn helps to raise immunity in addition to relieving psychological tension and stress.

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