Click here to learn the '7 Warning Signs' of Primary Immune Deficiencies
IDFNZ has developed a range of informational booklets, pamphlets, posters and education kits to offer NZ medical professionals, patients and families basic information about these rare disorders of the immune system.
One example is the '7 warning signs of Primary Immune Deficiency (PID)' poster, endorsed by the IDFNZ medical panel, and developed as a simple cartoon illustration which features heavily in our ongoing PID Awareness campaign. Every GP waiting room should have one on display!
Ascia PID E-Training for GP's
IDFNZ is thrilled to announce that Ascia (Australian Society of Clinical Immunology & Allergy)have produced an excellent E-training resource for GP's warning to these 7 warning signs. We strongy recommend that patients diagnosed with PID direct their GP to this free online resource for up to date information from specialists. http://www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/hpinformation/immunedisorder
We have also produced a series of pamphlets to satisfy inquiring young minds as to how the human body is designed to function. These resources are recommended for use by schools studying the immune system as part of World Day of Immunology and the IDFNZ ALL4GOOD challenge.
PID Brochures and Materials
PIC brochures and materials
Resource Downloads
- 7 Early Warning Signs Poster
- 7 PID Early Warning Signs Poster
- Our Immune System A5 Booklet
- Understanding our Blood
- Investigate Immunity
- Treatment of PIDs
- PID Guide for Schools
- PID - Guide for Parents and Families
- Living with Primary Immunodeficiency (PID)
- Recurrent Infections
- Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)
- Chronic Granulomatous Disorder (CGD)
- Genetic testing and PID
- X- Linked Agammaglobilinaemia (XLA)
- Selective IgA Deficiency
- What is IVIG Therapy?
- IVIG Therapy Book
- Zika Virus IPOPI report
- SCIG Infusions- A practical guide for patients
- PIDS and Respiratory Disorders
- PIDS and Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Management after Diagnosis
- Treatments for primary immunodeficiencies: a guide for patients and their families
- A guide for schools
- Stay healthy! A guide for patients and their families
- 7 Warning Signs - Maori
- 7 Warning Signs - Chinese
- 7 Warning Signs- Tongan
- 7 Warning Signs - Samoan
- PID Poster - Chinese
- PID Poster - English
- PID Poster - Hindi
- PID Poster - Maori
- PID Poster - Samoan
- PID Poster - Tongan
- Ipopi - Management of Hyper IgM Syndromes
- Ipopi - The Management of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
- IPOPI - CHRONIC GRANULOMATOUS DISEASE
- IPOPI - WISKOTT-ALDRICH SYNDROME
- IPOPI- X-LINKED AGAMMAGLOBULINAEMIA
- IPOPI - TARGETED THERAPIES FOR PIDs
- IPOPI - RHEUMATOLOGICAL, AUTOIMMUNE & AUTOINFLAMMATORY CROSSOVERS
- IPOPI - ESSENTIALS OF PID DIAGNOSIS
- IPOPI - WHIM SYNDROME
- IPOPI - PIDs AND THE SKIN
- IPOPI - PIDs AND CANCER
- IPOPI - HYPER-IgE SYNDROME
- IPOPI - GENETIC DIAGNOSIS OF PIDs
- IPOPI - ATAXIA -TELANGIECTASIA
- IPOPI - APDS - ACTIVATED PI3K DELTA SYNDROME
- IPOPI - THE VALUE OF SCID NEWBORN SCREENING
- IPOPI - CVID MANAGEMENT
- IPOPI- PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCIES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT
- IPOPI - PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCIES AND INFECTIONS
- IPOPI - PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCIES AND ALLERGIES
- IPOPI - HOW ARE PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCIES CLASSIFIED?
PID Education
"Immunity is a fascinating subject that still conceals many secrets. When the immune system is fully understood, it will most likely hold the key to ridding humankind of many of its most feared diseases."
1. The normal Immune System
The Complement System
The first part of the immune system that meets invaders such as bacteria is a group of proteins called the complement system. these proteins flow freely in the blood and can quicly reach the site of an invasion where they can react directly with antigens-molecules that the body recongises as foreign substances. when actvated, the complement proteins can
-trigger inflammation
-attract eater cells suh as macrophages
-coat intruders so that eater cells are more likely to devour them
-kill intruders
Phagocytes
A group of immune cells specialized in finding and "eating" bacteria, viruses, and dead or injured body cells. there are three main types, the granulocyte, the macrophage and the dendritic cell.
Lymphocytes- T cells and B cells
The receptors match only one specific antigen. White blood cells called lymphocytes originate in the bone marrow but migrate to parts of the lymphatic system such as the lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus. There are two main types of lymphatic cells, T cells and B cells.
T Cells
Come in two different types, helper cells and killer cells. They are named T cells after the thymus, an organ siuated under the breastbone.
Helper T cells: main regulators of the immune defence. Their primary task is to activate B cells and killer T cells.
B Cells
Searches for antigen matching its receptors. If it finds such antigen it connects to it, and inside th B cell a triggering signal is set ooff. The B cell now needs proteins produced by helper T cells to become fully activated.
Plasma Cell
Is specialised in producing a specific protein, cllend an antibody that will respond to the same antigen that matched the B cell receptor. Antibodies are released from the plasma cell so that they can seek out intruders and help destroy them. Plasma cells produce antibodies at an amazing rate and can release tens of thousands of antibodies per second.
Memory Cells
The second cell type produced by the division of B cells. These cells have a prolonged life span and can remember specific intruders. The second time an intruder tries to invade the body, B and T memory cells help the immune system to activate much faster. The invaders are wiped out before the infected human feels any symptoms. The body has thus achieved immunity against the invader.
2. Primary Immune Deficiency (PID)
Are a group of rare diseases caused by basic defects in the normal immune system.
There are over 200 known PID conditions resulting from a defect in one or more elements or functions of the immune system.
Most are genetic conditions running in families. A range of literature has been developed by IDFNZ to convey the most common conditions.
3. Patient Resources
A range of literature has been developed by IDFNZ to convey the most common conditions;
IDF Patient and Family Information Book
IDF Our Immune System
IDFNZ Pamphlet Series - Living with PID Disorders - Selective IgA deficiency
IDFNZ Pamphlet Series - Living with PID
IDFNZ Pamphlet Series - Living with PID Disrders - Common variable immune deficiency
IDFNZ Pamphlet Series - Living with PID Disordrs - Genetic Testing and PID
IDFNZ Pamphlet Series - Living with PID Disorders - Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD
IDFNZ Pamphlet Series - LIDFNZ Diary/Organiser
Living with PID Disorders - X - Linked Agammaglobulinaemia
IDFNZ Diary/Organiser
IDFNZ 7 Warning Sign Pens
IDFNZ 7 Warning Sign Posters - A4 Size
IDFNZ 7 Warning Sign Posters - A5 Size
IDFNZ 7 Warning Signs Notepads - A6 Size
IDFNZ Investigating Immunity
IDFNZ Understanding your blood
IDFNZ - What is a transplant
IDFNZ What is IVIC therapy
IDFNZ School Booklet - A guide for teachers
IPOPI Stay Healthy - A guide for patients and their families
IPOPI - When to give immunoglobulin replacement therapy
IPOPI - PIDS and Gastrointestinal Disorders
IPOPI - PIDS and Respiratory Disorders
IPOPI - Management after diagnosis
IPOPI - A guide for schools
IPOPI - Treatments for PID- A guide for patients and their families
IPOPI - SCIG Infusions - A practical guide for patients
See the 'Resources' tab below for the PID Information Order form, to order your free resources if needed from IDFNZ today!
4. Health Professional Resources
7 WARNING SIGNS;
1) An usually large number of infections requiring treatment
2) Infections caused by unusual types of organisms
3) Infections in unusual places
4) Infections that do not respond to treatment as expected
5) A child that does not grow or put on weight as expected
6) Family history of an immune deficiency or abnormal infections
7) Any other unusual symptoms related to infections
*Any infection needs medical attention so please see your doctor if you or your child is unwell, has any of the above signs or if you have any other concerns with ongoing infections.
ASCIA TRAINING ONLINE;
-IDFNZ is thrilled to announce that Ascia (Australian Society of Clinical Immunology & Allergy)have produced an excellent E-training resource for GP's warning to these 7 warning signs. We strongly recommend that patients diagnosed with PID direct their GP to this free online resource for up to date information from specialists. http://www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/hpinformation/immunedisorder
Resource Downloads
- PID - a guide for Teachers and schools
- IPOPI REPORT
- PID Information Order form
- SCIG Infusions- A practical guide for patients
- PIDS and Respiratory Disorders
- PIDS and Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Management after Diagnosis
- Treatments for primary immunodeficiencies: a guide for patients and their families
- A guide for schools
- Stay healthy! A guide for patients and their families
- IDF Patient and Family Handbook
- 7 Warning Signs Poster
- A National PID Service? - Full Article
- Living with PID talks - session 1. Covid and PID, NZ experience Dr Miriam Hurst.
PID Medical Research
IDFNZ is committed to providing Access to quality and up to date educational information on Primary Immune Deficiency conditions , their diagnosis and treatment. This information is especially targeted at assisting Medical professionals as well as patients requiring a deeper understanding of these conditions.
IDFNZ is thrilled to announce that Ascia (Australian Society of Clinical Immunology & Allergy)have produced an excellent E-training resource for GP's warning to these 7 warning signs. We strongly recommend that patients diagnosed with PID direct their GP to this free online resource for up to date information from specialists.
Resource Downloads
- The Clinical Presentation of Primary Immune Deficiencies
- Customised molecular diagnosis of primary immune deficiency disorders in NZ
- Recurrent Infections in Childhood
- Recurrent Infections text
- Stress in PID
- covid-17 letter to MOH
- covid-17 letter to MBI
- COVID vs CVID
- Vaccination against COVID-19 for PID Children and Young People
