How is PI diagnosed, and what are the warning signs?
PI can be diagnosed by a skin test similar to a tuberculosis test, or a blood test that measures the level of immunoglobins, the infection-fighting antibodies produced by white blood cells. Because the disease is generally inherited, prenatal genetic testing can also be performed. Most patients with PI are tested after complaining of multiple or recurrent infections; PI specialists say that people who suffer eight or more new ear infections in a year, have two or more sinus infections in a year, or who spend two or more months on antibiotics, are displaying warning signs and should be tested for PI. In addition, some forms of PI cause other, non-infection symptoms, including anemia and eczema. The average time from the onset of symptoms in individuals to diagnosis of PI is nine years. To learn more about PI and treatment options, talk with your doctor and ask the experts at the Immune Deficiency Foundation and the Jeffrey Modell Foundation.
