Do you get sick often? It could be due to IgA Deficiency.

Do you often get colds, coughs, and sore throats? Or do you easily catch it from someone close to you who has a minor illness? Some people get sick more often than others. We think it's just their "nature." But that's not always the case. One reason for this could be a slight weakness in our body's defense system, that is, the immune system. Today we are talking about IgA Deficiency, a very common condition that many people don't know about.

Simply put, what is IgA deficiency?

Our body has its own defense army, like a country. We call this the Immune System . The main function of this system is to recognize and destroy germs such as viruses and bacteria that enter the body from outside, and to protect us from diseases.

There are different types of soldiers in this security force. One such special soldier is called Immunoglobulin . These are actually a type of protein that our body makes. There are several types of these immunoglobulins. Like A, G, M, E, D.

The IgA we are talking about today is a type of immunoglobulin A. This IgA has a special feature. It is mainly deposited in the mucous membranes of our body. That is:

• Eyes
• Ears
• Mouth and throat
• Breathing tract (respiratory system)
• Digestive system (intestines)

These are the places where germs can easily enter our bodies. So this guard called IgA sits guard at these doors and prevents germs from entering.

IgA deficiency means that a person's body does not produce enough of this protective protein called IgA. Some people produce very little of it. Others may not produce it at all.

But the best part is that most of the time, the other soldiers in our immune system (like IgG and IgM) try to compensate for this deficiency to some extent. That's why most people with IgA deficiency don't experience any symptoms or complications throughout their lives. They don't even know they have this condition.

What are the symptoms of IgA deficiency?

As we mentioned earlier, most people do not have any symptoms. However, some people may experience some symptoms. The most important of these is getting infections more often than others.

Imagine someone named Nimali. If someone in her office catches a cold, Nimali is the next to catch it. While others get better in two or three days, it takes Nimali about a week. Sometimes it progresses to sinusitis. This is what a person with IgA deficiency experiences.

Let's look at the table below to see what problems can commonly arise due to this situation.

Why does this situation occur?

The main cause of IgA deficiency is genetic . This means that the genetic changes associated with the condition are inherited from parents to children. If someone in your family, especially your parents, has the condition, your risk of developing it is about 50 times higher than others.

Very rarely, low IgA levels can also be a side effect of long-term use of certain medications. For example:

• Immunosuppressants
• Some anti-epileptic drugs (e.g. Phenytoin)
• Some medications for joint diseases (e.g. Penicillamine, Sulfasalazine)

What are the complications and other effects of this condition?

Again, most people do not experience any complications. The main problem that can occur is frequent illness.

However, people with IgA deficiency may be at slightly higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases than the general population.

What are these autoimmune diseases?

Simply put, this is when our body's immune system malfunctions. That is, instead of attacking foreign germs, it starts attacking our own healthy cells and tissues. This causes various diseases.

Some of the diseases that may be associated with IgA deficiency include:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis: A disease that causes swelling and pain in the joints.
• Lupus: A condition that can affect various organs in the body.
• Celiac Disease: A condition in which the body reacts abnormally to gluten (a protein found in wheat flour).

Does IgA deficiency cause fatigue?

This is a question that many people ask. IgA deficiency itself does not directly cause fatigue. However, if you also have one of the autoimmune diseases we discussed earlier, you may experience extreme fatigue as a symptom of that disease. So if you have unexplained fatigue, it is very important to talk to your doctor about it.

How does a doctor diagnose this? What is the treatment?

Diagnosis

Diagnosing IgA deficiency is very simple. It only requires a blood test . This test measures the levels of various immunoglobulins in your blood. If your IgA levels are very low or absent, your doctor can confirm the condition.

Most of the time, this is discovered by chance. Low IgA levels are only discovered when a blood test is done for another condition. If you know that someone in your family has this condition, it is important to tell your doctor.

Treatment

The most important thing to understand here is that there is no specific treatment or cure for IgA deficiency, as it is caused by a genetic mutation in our body.

So what does a doctor do? He doesn't treat IgA deficiency, but the symptoms and infections that result from it.

• If you develop a bacterial infection, you will be given antibiotics .
• If you have frequent and severe infections, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions may sometimes be recommended to strengthen your immune system. However, this is rarely done.
• If you have asthma, allergies, or an autoimmune disease, you will be given appropriate treatment.

For some children, IgA levels may gradually return to normal as they get older, but this is not the case for everyone.

When should I see a doctor?

If you feel like you're getting sick all the time, or if you feel like you're taking a long time to recover from even a minor illness, definitely see a doctor. If you have symptoms you can't explain, talk about them.

Your doctor will ask you questions, examine you, and, if necessary, do a blood test to help find the cause.