Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PI) weaken the body’s immune system, leaving patients prone to infections. In very mild cases, the person may not even know they have PI, but in other cases, the person’s life can be completely up-ended.
Chronic granulomatosis is one form, and having known someone with that particular type of PI, I can tell you he had to be very careful to avoid germs. Mowing the grass was out of the question because of the mold the lawn mower would kick up. Riding on the commuter train during cold and flu season was also not high on his list of preferred activities.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of PI can include recurring pneumonia, sinus infections, ear infections, inflammation and infection of internal organs (which can be very scary, especially when the heart is involved), low platelet counts, gastro problems, delayed growth, and autoimmune disorders like type 1 diabetes, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis.
That’s a pretty long laundry list, but most patients don’t have all these symptoms at once!
Because it’s so critically important to raise awareness about PIs, the Immune Deficiency Foundation has a national conference every year. And this year’s conference is coming up in June.
If you are a healthcare provider, a patient, a researcher, or are just interested in learning about this rare disease, you might want to attend.
Here’s the info:
IDF 2017 National Conference
Anaheim, CA
June 15-17, 2017
Anaheim Marriott
Registration begins February 2017
