The dangers of immunodeficiency pneumonia

Everyone is unfamiliar with immunodeficiency pneumonia, but everyone must be familiar with pneumonia. So what is immunodeficiency pneumonia? Everyone must be asking this question. In fact, we often see this disease, so let me introduce it below.

Immunodeficiency pneumonia refers to a syndrome of impaired immune defense mechanisms due to congenital, hereditary and other reasons. It is inappropriate for some people to classify immune damage caused by immune diseases of immune organs, such as lymphoma, as immunodeficiency pneumonia. The syndrome is clinically characterized by recurrent infections, especially respiratory tract infections, which occur in childhood and occasionally go unrecognized until adulthood.

Among recurrent respiratory tract infections, 1% to 2% are caused by primary immunodeficiency; immunodeficiency refers to various diseases caused by damage to the immune defense mechanism due to congenital, hereditary and other reasons.

1. Congenital X-linked agammaglobulinemia

The affected infant usually does not develop the disease in the first 3 to 4 months after birth because of temporary protection from maternal antibodies. After that, the patient shows increased sensitivity to pathogens, with upper and lower respiratory tract infections being the most common, but gastrointestinal tract and bone and joint infections, sepsis, meningitis, etc. also being seen. Symptoms may not be as severe as those of normal childhood infections, but are characterized by chronicity and recurrent episodes. Pneumonia usually resolves slowly, and half of patients develop bronchiectasis. Common pathogens include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and other types of staphylococci and streptococci. The secondary pathogens include untyped Haemophilus influenzae, Salmonella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycoplasma, etc.

2. Common variable immunodeficiency (CVI)

The cause of CVI is unclear. Unlike X-linked agammaglobulinemia, most patients have normal or increased numbers of B lymphocytes but cannot develop into secretory plasma cells. In some cases, B lymphocytes cannot proliferate or synthesize immunoglobulins, while in other cases, plasma cells can produce immunoglobulins but cannot secrete them. Substances that inhibit B lymphocytes were found in the serum of very few patients. In in vitro experiments, B lymphocyte function returned to normal after the inhibitory substances were removed. In some cases, an increase in suppressor T lymphocytes was also found, but its significance in the pathogenesis is unclear. Interestingly, H2-receptor blockers can reduce the activity of suppressor T lymphocytes, and some patients have increased IgG after taking these drugs. The serum IgG of patients with this disease is usually lower than 3.0 mg/ml or lower than half of the lower limit of the normal value. The levels of IgA and IgM are uncertain. Usually one or both immunoglobulins are abnormally low, and occasionally both are normal. CVI is one of the diseases associated with elevated chloride in sweat. Most patients with cystic fibrosis have elevated immunoglobulin, but about 20% of patients show a decrease.

It can be seen that immunodeficiency pneumonia is a disease that is very harmful to humans. As long as we have such patients, we must conduct timely diagnosis and treatment, and cooperate with daily physical exercise to develop good habits.