When your body can't fight off infections because your primary immunodeficiency, a group of genetic disorders where the immune system fails to develop or function properly. Also known as inborn errors of immunity, it's not something you catch—it's something you're born with. Unlike secondary immune problems caused by HIV, chemotherapy, or aging, primary immunodeficiency means your immune system never got the right tools to begin with. This isn't rare. Over 400 types exist, and many go undiagnosed for years because symptoms look like ordinary colds or ear infections.
People with this condition often get the same infections over and over—sinus infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, or gut infections that won't quit. Kids might miss months of school. Adults might lose jobs because they're always sick. Some types cause low antibody deficiency, a failure to produce enough infection-fighting proteins called immunoglobulins. Others mess with white blood cells, T-cells, or complement proteins. You can have a normal blood count but still be defenseless against germs. That’s why doctors check for low immunoglobulin therapy, a treatment that replaces missing antibodies through regular IV or injection infusions. It’s not a cure, but for many, it’s the only thing keeping them out of the hospital.
What’s frustrating is how often this gets mistaken for laziness, stress, or poor hygiene. If you’ve had more than four ear infections in a year, two sinus infections, or needed antibiotics more than twice a year as a child, it’s not normal. It’s a red flag. And if your family has a history of early deaths from infections or autoimmune diseases, that’s another clue. Testing isn’t complicated—just a blood test to measure antibody levels and immune cell counts. Yet most people wait years before someone connects the dots.
The posts below cover real-life stories and medical facts you won’t find in brochures. You’ll see how people manage daily life with recurrent infections, what treatments actually work (and which ones don’t), how antibiotics can make things worse if used too often, and why some folks need lifelong infusions just to stay healthy. There’s also info on how other conditions—like gut issues, allergies, or even long-term drug use—can mask or worsen immune problems. This isn’t theory. It’s what people live with. And if you’re reading this, you might be one of them.
Recurrent infections can signal an underlying immune disorder. Learn the red flags doctors look for, key lab tests, and how early diagnosis can prevent serious complications in children and adults.