Antibodies do two things:

They help us to recover from an infection.

They prevent the same infection from recurring in the future.

 

Antibodies are divided into three main classes: G, A and M.

The most abundant class is G. It is divided into four subclasses 1 2 3 4.

Each class of antibody has a different function. For example, IgA antibodies protect body surfaces such as the lining of the lungs, and IgG antibodies are found in blood and tissue fluid and protect against invading infections.

Antibodies normally get into all parts of the body, including the skin, eyes, ears, nose, throat, lungs, intestines, joints and brain. All these organs need antibodies for protection against invading organisms. So, any part of the body can be affected by primary antibody deficiency, although usually only a few parts are affected in each case.

Some people need only periodic doses or small daily doses of antibiotics, Adam tried this over the Christmas period and was sick each time. He had Azithromycin which he needed to take three days in a row and then eleven days without and then again three days in a row and so on.

However, others need to receive infusions of the immunoglobulin to replace their missing antibodies.

Adam has had his first infusion on December the 29th at the Great Ormand Street Childrens Hospital. It took about 5 hours and he had no side affects with it.

 

The immunoglobulin is prepared from pools of donated blood plasma. The infusions are very effective in helping to maintain good health and prevent damage  (or halt further damage) caused by repeated infections.