Infection in primary immunodeficiency syndromes

Abstract

Better diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of herpes virus and fungal infections has improved the prognosis for infants and children with severe primary T-lymphocyte deficiency. Polymerase chain reaction techniques to diagnose enteroviral infection show that these viruses are a major threat to patients with primary hypogammaglobulinaemia. Treatment of infections in chronic granulomatous disease with interferon-γ is another example of successful cytokine therapy for human disease.