Skip to main content

Table 1 Symptom attribution and delay before diagnosis

From: Which triggers could support timely identification of primary antibody deficiency? A qualitative study using the patient perspective

Patient

Age

(years)

Delay (years)

Signs and symptoms

Patient’s attribution

At start of symptoms

At time of diagnosis

At time of interview

1, F, CVID

28

33

38

5

Recurrent sinusitis/ otitis/ rhinitis/ pneumonia, fatigue, weight loss, anosmia, splenomegaly

Increased susceptibility due to pregnancy, being too busy and taking too little rest

2, F, sIgAdef

13

32

35

19

Chronic rhinitis, hypothyroidism, fatigue, stomach and bowel complaints

No considerations, but fear about the diagnosis

3, F, CVID

26

29

35

3

Chronic cough, recurrent otitis/ bronchitis, ITP, alopecia areata, chronic fatigue

Some kind of autoimmune disorder, sensitive lungs

4, F, CVID

43

46

51

3

Being always ill, almost continuously fever, recurrent rhinitis/ otitis/ pneumonia/ sinusitis, anosmia, fatigue, recurrent ITP, chronic diarrhea, meningitis, inguinal lymphadenopathy, weight loss

n/a

5, M, agammaglobulinemia

4

13

59

9

Recurrent meningitis/ pneumonia/ otitis/ sinusitis

XLA (after diagnosed was discovered in his brother)

6, F, CVID

45

51

57

6

Recurrent respiratory infections/ sinusitis/ pneumonia, chronic cough, aphthous lesions, salpingitis, arthralgia, bronchial hyperreactivity, fatigue, exercise intolerance

Some kind of immune disorder

7, F, unPAD

0

5

36

5

Recurrent otitis/ rhinitis/ sinusitis, chronic cough, skin abscess, pneumonia, failure to thrive

n/a

8, M, CVID

5

40

58

35

Recurrent otitis/ rhinitis/ sinusitis/ pneumonia/ varicella zoster/ Giardia lamblia, fatigue, warts, meningitis, anosmia

n/a

9, F, unPAD

22

42

46

20

Recurrent otitis/ sinusitis/ pneumonia/ skin infections, mumps, chickenpox (2x), asthma, Graves’ disease

Initially Graves’ disease and asthma, later after searching the internet an immune disorder

10, F, CVID

8

23

24

16

Erythema nodosum, splenomegaly, enlarged supraclavicular lymph node, fatigue, oral aphthous lesions, being always ill, recurrent otitis/ sinusitis

Iron deficiency anemia, some kind of viral infection

11, M, sIgAdef

0

4

16

4

Recurrent rhinitis/ otitis/ pharyngitis, fatigue, growth retardation, chronic diarrhea

n/a

12, F, IgG subclass deficiency

1

40

44

39

Recurrent sinusitis/ pharyngitis/ respiratory tract infections, fatigue, multiple allergies, asthma, retropharyngeal abscess

Combination of (severe) asthma and allergies

13, F, Good syndrome

Not precisely known

68

68

> 30

Iron deficiency anemia, recurrent lymphadenopathy/ cystitis/ sinusitis/ otitis/ respiratory tract infections, fatigue, chronic diarrhea, diverticulitis

Combination of iron deficiency anemia, asthma and diverticulitis

14, F, CVID

40

50

63

10

Recurrent sinusitis and pneumonia, odontogenic infections, sepsis, severe wound infection, fatigue, exercise intolerance, chronic slightly elevated body temperature

Initially viral infections in combination with psychological factors (divorce) and menopause, later after searching the internet an immune disorder

  1. CVID common variable immunodeficiency disorders, F female, IgGscdef IgG subclass deficiency, ITP idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, M male, n/a not applicable, PID primary immunodeficiency, slgAdef selective IgA deficiency, unPAD unclassified primary antibody deficiency, XLA X-linked agammaglobulinemia