Final answer:
Assessment of the immunodeficient patient involves identifying inadequate immune responses due to genetic conditions like SCID or acquired factors such as HIV, which impairs CD4 helper T cells. Flow cytometry measures helper T cell counts to manage treatment effectively. Malnutrition and neutropenia also contribute to immunodeficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Assessment of the Immunodeficient Patient
Assessment of an immunodeficient patient involves a thorough evaluation to identify any failures, insufficiencies, or delays in the immune response. This condition may arise from various origins such as genetic disorders like Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) or acquired causes like HIV infection, which leads to the depletion of CD4 helper T cells. Immunodeficiencies can render patients susceptible to a plethora of opportunistic infections that a competent immune system would typically resist. Flow cytometry is frequently utilized to monitor helper T cell counts, particularly in HIV patients, and to adjust treatment accordingly, especially if cell numbers fall below 500 cells/μL. The evaluation may also consider neutropenia, a reduction in neutrophils that leaves the body vulnerable to bacterial infections. Moreover, conditions like malnutrition can drastically weaken the immune response, hindering tasks like antibody production and phagocytic activity, thereby increasing vulnerability to infections and diseases.