Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/Rare and Complex Conditions/Raising awareness about immune deficiency

Raising awareness about immune deficiency

 

April 26, 2012
0 Comments
By: Cincinnati Children’s News Team

Ashtyn Carrier was 7 when she was diagnosed with a rare and almost unpronounceable immune-system disorder called Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, better known as HLH.

She and her family moved all the way from Minnesota so she could receive treatment at Cincinnati Children’s. She received a successful bone-marrow transplant last year and has returned home.

Another immune deficiency of growing concern is primary immunodeficiency. Even though 10 million people worldwide suffer from primary immunodeficiency – a genetic immune deficiency making them prone to severe infections of skin, organs and other parts of the body – most people have never heard of it.

Even worse is many aren’t aware that they or their child has the disorder, which often is mistaken for repeated serious flu, ear infections, sinus and intestinal infections and other ailments, explains Lisa Filipovich, MD, director of the Immune Deficiency and Histiocytosis Program at Cincinnati Children’s.

“Too often these infections are being treated ineffectively with repeated prescriptions of antibiotics while the underlying cause is missed,” she says. “The consequences can lead to vital organ damage or even be fatal.”

This week is World Primary Immunodeficiency Week, and medical professionals around the world – including at Cincinnati Children’s – are trying to increase awareness about the disease to help ensure that people get the appropriate medical referrals and treatment they need.

If diagnosed in a timely and accurate manner, Primary Immunodeficiency is manageable through appropriate treatment.

Dr. Filipovich offers these warnings signs that a child or adult may have underlying Primary Immunodeficiency, and says if a person has two or more, they should consult their physician about the disease:

1.         Eight or more new ear infections within one year
2.         Two or more serious sinus infections within one year
3.         Two or more months on antibiotics with little effect
4.         Two or more pneumonias within one year
5.         Failure of an infant to gain weight or grow normally
6.         Recurrent, deep skin or organ abscesses
7.         Persistent thrush in mouth or elsewhere on skin, after age 1
8.         Need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections
9.         Two or more deep-seated infections
10.       A family history of Primary Immunodeficiency

Please pass this information along to others and help us raise awareness of this often undiagnosed condition.

Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Related Articles

<strong>Prediction of Fontan Outcomes Using T2-Weighted MRI Radiomic Features and Machine Learning</strong> 
Prediction of Fontan Outcomes Using T2-Weighted MRI Radiomic Features and Machine Learning 
<strong>How Does Radiology Share Your Images?</strong>
How Does Radiology Share Your Images?
Your Child Wants to Eat Vegetarian. Now What?
Your Child Wants to Eat Vegetarian. Now What?
My Child Had A Seizure – Is It Epilepsy?
My Child Had A Seizure – Is It Epilepsy?
TAGS:
Avatar photo

About the author: Cincinnati Children’s News Team

The members of the news team at Cincinnati Children's are responsible for telling the stories of the medical center. Stories of the families we serve, research and clinical care, safe and healthy practices and happenings at the hospital. If it has to do with Cincinnati Children's, Danielle, Nick, Jim, Kate, Rachel, Terry and Shannon will keep you informed.

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Comments Yet

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • How We Do It
  • Learning and Growing
  • Meet The Team
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Stories
  • Pin of the Week
  • Radiology
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What Makes Us Different
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Never miss a post! Sign up to get new blog updates delivered to your email.

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 2k views
  • Caring for the Caregivers of Children with Congenital Heart Disease  1.2k views
  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 0.9k views
  • 4 Questions to Ask When Your Child Has Recurrent Croup 633 views
  • Would You Pass This Pesticide Safety Quiz? 631 views
  • Laryngomalacia: Is My Child’s Noisy Breathing Serious? 557 views
About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center