When your body can’t make enough antibodies to fight off infections, you might be dealing with common variable immunodeficiency, a primary immune disorder where the body fails to produce sufficient antibodies, leading to frequent and severe infections. Also known as CVID, it’s one of the most common primary immunodeficiencies in adults, often diagnosed between ages 20 and 40. People with CVID don’t just get colds—they get pneumonia, sinus infections, gut infections, and sometimes chronic lung damage because their immune system can’t respond properly to germs.
This condition isn’t caused by lifestyle or poor hygiene. It’s a biological flaw in B cells—the white blood cells that make immunoglobulins, antibody proteins like IgG, IgA, and IgM that tag pathogens for destruction. Without enough of these, even harmless bacteria can turn dangerous. Many people with CVID also have related issues like autoimmune diseases, digestive problems, or enlarged lymph nodes. It’s not rare, but it’s often missed because symptoms look like ordinary infections. If you’ve had more than two sinus infections a year, or pneumonia more than once, or chronic diarrhea that doesn’t go away, it’s worth asking your doctor about testing for CVID.
There’s no cure, but intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, a treatment that replaces missing antibodies through regular infusions can dramatically improve quality of life. Many patients also need antibiotics to manage recurring infections, and some benefit from supplements like vitamin D or zinc to support overall immune function. Because CVID weakens your body’s defenses, you also need to be careful about drug interactions—some medications, especially immunosuppressants, can make things worse. That’s why knowing what’s in your supplements and how they mix with your prescriptions matters. You’ll find real stories and practical advice here on how to recognize early signs, what tests to ask for, and how to live well while managing this condition.
Below, you’ll find guides on how to spot infection patterns linked to immune weakness, what medications to avoid, how supplements can help or hurt, and how to talk to your doctor about long-term care. This isn’t theoretical—it’s what real people with CVID and their doctors are using to stay healthy.
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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