Immune System Disorders

• Eosinophilic disorders

  Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell. They help fight off infections and play a role in your body's immune response. They can also build up and cause inflammation.

  Normally your blood doesn't have a large number of eosinophils. Your body may produce more of them in response to:

  • Allergic disorders
  • Skin conditions
  • Parasitic and fungal infections
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Some cancers
  • Bone marrow disorders

  In some conditions, the eosinophils can move outside the bloodstream and build up in organs and tissues. This can happen in many different parts of the body, including the esophagus, heart, lungs, blood and intestines. Treatment of eosinophilic disorders can vary, depending on the cause and which part of the body is affected. Steroids are often part of the treatment.

  Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine

• Hereditary angioedema

  Hereditary angioedema is a disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of severe swelling (angioedema). The most common areas of the body to develop swelling are the limbs, face, intestinal tract, and airway. Minor trauma or stress may trigger an attack, but swelling often occurs without a known trigger. Episodes involving the intestinal tract cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Swelling in the airway can restrict breathing and lead to life-threatening obstruction of the airway. About one-third of people with this condition develop a non-itchy rash called erythema marginatum during an attack.
  
  Symptoms of hereditary angioedema typically begin in childhood and worsen during puberty. On average, untreated individuals have an attack every one to two weeks, and most episodes last for about three to four days. The frequency and duration of attacks vary greatly among people with hereditary angioedema, even among people in the same family.

  Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine

• Primary immune deficiency

  Primary immune deficiency diseases (PIDDs) are rare, genetic disorders that impair the immune system. Without a functional immune response, people with PIDDs may be subject to chronic, debilitating infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which can increase the risk of developing cancer. Some PIDDs can be fatal. PIDDs may be diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adulthood, depending on disease severity.

  Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH)