Immunodeficiency Specialist
At his state-of-the-art office in Port Richey, Florida, Dr. Jaime Kratz provides a host of services for patients who have immunodeficiencies. Regarded as one of the leading immunologists near Trinity, he’s helped many residents of the area overcome the challenges that immunodeficiency disorders pose.
Immunodefiency
What is an Immunodeficiency?
Immunodeficiencies include a host of diseases that compromise the immune system. The severity of the disorder itself can vary greatly. Even mild immunodeficiencies, however, expose people to greater risk of common diseases because they inhibit the immune system’s ability to fight off bacteria and viruses. Anyone with a disorder might not be able to fend off common colds, the flu or similar diseases.
One of the most notorious immunodeficiencies is human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. Other immunodeficiencies include severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) and common variable immune deficiency (CVID).
What Causes It?
People can develop immunodeficiencies in a number of ways. As most people are aware because of the prevalence of HIV, immunodeficiencies can be transmitted by the exchanged of body fluids. This is hardly the only one, though. Other immunodeficiencies are caused by genetic defects, medicines and bone marrow transplants.
What Treatment Options Are Available?
In most cases, there is no true cure — especially for those that are a result of genetics. Most people with immunodeficiencies, however, are able to continue to live long, healthy and normal lives thanks to the treatment options available.
Depending on day-to-day symptoms, an immunologist may recommend management techniques, disease prevention strategies or prescribe medication. Sometimes, these are not necessary as the immunodeficiency causes only minor symptoms or is unnoticeable most of the time. When a patient with an immunodeficiency contracts a common disease, an immunologist may suggest taking an aggressive approach against the contracted disease so that complications don’t develop from it.