When your body can't make enough antibody deficiency, a condition where the immune system fails to produce sufficient antibodies to fight infections. Also known as primary immunodeficiency, it leaves you open to frequent, stubborn infections that won’t go away with standard treatments. This isn’t just about catching colds more often—it’s about pneumonia that won’t clear, sinus infections that return every few months, or gut infections that cause chronic diarrhea. If you’ve been told you’re "just unlucky" with infections, you might be dealing with something deeper.
Antibody deficiency often ties directly to low immunoglobulin, the proteins (IgG, IgA, IgM) your body uses to identify and neutralize bacteria and viruses. Without enough of these, germs slip through your defenses. It’s not always genetic—some people develop it after long-term use of certain drugs, like those for autoimmune diseases or cancer. Others have it from birth. The most common form, Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID), shows up in adulthood and often gets misdiagnosed as asthma or chronic bronchitis.
What makes this tricky is that symptoms overlap with so many other conditions. Recurrent ear infections in kids, bronchitis in adults, or even unexplained fatigue can all point to antibody deficiency. But here’s the key: if you’ve had four or more ear or sinus infections in a year, or needed multiple courses of antibiotics for the same issue, it’s time to ask about antibody levels. Blood tests can measure your immunoglobulins, and if they’re low, treatment isn’t guesswork—it’s straightforward. Intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy replaces what your body can’t make, and many people go from sickly to stable in weeks.
You’ll also see connections to recurrent infections, a hallmark sign of antibody deficiency that often leads to hospital visits and missed work or school. These aren’t random—they’re a pattern. And while antibiotics treat the infection, they don’t fix the root problem. Left untreated, repeated infections can damage your lungs, sinuses, or digestive tract permanently. That’s why early detection matters.
The posts below cover real situations where antibody deficiency shows up—not in textbooks, but in everyday life. You’ll find how it links to autoimmune conditions like encephalitis, why some immunosuppressants raise the risk, and how supplements or medications can accidentally worsen immune function. There’s also advice on when to push back on your doctor, how to track symptoms effectively, and what tests actually matter. This isn’t about theory. It’s about what to do next if you’ve been told you’re "just prone to getting sick."
Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is a serious antibody deficiency that causes frequent infections and long-term health risks. Learn how immunoglobulin therapy works, why diagnosis takes years, and what new treatments are on the horizon.
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