D81.0: Severe combined immunodeficiency [SCID] with reticular dysgenesis

The immune system protects the body from pathogens and foreign substances. The immune system can also destroy cells in the body that have pathologically changed. The body's immune system is made up of different types of immune cells. Some immune cells can destroy pathogens or foreign bodies themselves. Other immune cells produce certain antibodies.

You have far too few immune cells. Moreover, the immune cells that you have may not be working properly. The disease is congenital, which means you were born with it. Other family members may also be affected.

When someone has a congenital immune deficiency, they are unable to properly combat various pathogens. This also relates to pathogens that are actually harmless to healthy people. Pathogens include bacteria, viruses and fungi, for example. With this condition, the baby can be infected by pathogens during the first days of their life. These cause severe lung inflammation or diarrhea, for example. If this happens repeatedly, the body can be severely weakened. As a result, babies and small children may grow more slowly and put on less weight than normal.

With this condition, you are usually able to hear little or nothing because the inner ear is damaged. The ear is a sensory organ that is used to hear and to maintain one's balance. There are 3 different areas in the ear: the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear.