Primary immunodeficiencies are disorders in which part of the body’s immune system is not present or is not working properly.
Secondary or acquired immunodeficiencies are the result of external processes or diseases through infection. Common causes are malnutrition, ageing and certain medication (e.g. chemotherapy, immunosuppressive drugs, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs).
(i.e. our immune system mistakenly attacks our body’s healthy organs and tissues as if they are foreign invaders)
Examples include Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Examples of such disorders include asthma, eczema or specific allergies which include environmental allergies (e.g. dust mites), drug allergies (e.g. specific medications), seasonal allergies (e.g. hay fever), food allergies (e.g. nuts).
Cancer is characterised by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissues. Cancer can spread throughout the body. Examples are leukemia and lymphoma.