CVID: Understanding Common Variable Immunodeficiency and How It Affects Your Health

When your body can’t fight off infections the way it should, it’s not just bad luck—it might be Common Variable Immunodeficiency, a primary immune disorder where the body doesn’t produce enough antibodies to protect against bacteria and viruses. Also known as CVID, this condition shows up in adulthood more often than childhood and leaves people vulnerable to repeat sinus, lung, and gut infections. Unlike temporary immune dips from stress or illness, CVID is a lifelong issue that doesn’t fix itself. People with CVID often get pneumonia or bronchitis multiple times a year, even when they wash hands, avoid sick people, and get flu shots.

What makes CVID tricky is that it doesn’t always look the same. One person might struggle with constant ear infections, while another deals with chronic diarrhea and weight loss because their gut can’t absorb nutrients. Some develop autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, and others face a higher risk of certain cancers, especially lymphoma. The root problem? Low levels of immunoglobulins, the proteins your immune system uses as antibodies to neutralize threats. Without enough IgG, IgA, or IgM, your body can’t remember how to fight off germs it’s seen before.

Diagnosis isn’t quick. Doctors look at your infection history, run blood tests to check antibody levels, and rule out other causes like HIV or medication side effects. Once confirmed, the main treatment is immunoglobulin therapy, a weekly or monthly infusion or injection of purified antibodies from healthy donors. It doesn’t cure CVID, but it cuts infections by up to 80% for most people. Many also need antibiotics on standby, vitamin supplements, and regular lung scans to catch problems early.

You won’t find a cure yet, but you can live well with it. People with CVID who stay on treatment, avoid smoking, get vaccinated (where safe), and see specialists regularly have near-normal life expectancy. The key is catching it before permanent lung or gut damage sets in. If you’ve had more than four sinus infections a year, needed multiple rounds of IV antibiotics, or have unexplained weight loss and fatigue, ask your doctor about CVID. It’s not rare—it affects about 1 in 25,000 people—and too many go years without a diagnosis.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on managing infections, understanding drug interactions, avoiding medication errors, and spotting hidden side effects—all things that matter deeply when your immune system isn’t doing its job. Whether you’re living with CVID or caring for someone who is, these posts give you the clear, practical info you need to stay in control.