Is your baby’s immune system weak?
QHi Dr. Celeste,
My 10-month- old baby girl has been in and out of the hospital. She has been confined for pneumonia three times already since she was born. Sometimes, my pedia also prescribed more than one kind of antibiotic as treatment for her infection. I feel like my baby has a very low immune system. I have been searching a lot on the internet and I came across ' Primary Immunodeficiency.' How would I know if she has it? Should I be worried?
---Mommy Kath
AHello Mommy Kath!
I admire your dedication in monitoring your daughter’s confinement and antibiotic intake. I also agree that three pneumonias in less than a year is something to be worried about! Ideally, children should be recovering right after the illness. Their immune system should actually be strength
ened as it is exposed to different infections or vaccinations.
However, if your immune system has a genetic or hereditary defect since birth, it would cause increased susceptibility to a wide range of infections – both bacterial and viral. These group of genetic defects are called Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases or PID.
Here are 10 warning signs to look for in your child that is suggestive of a possible Primary Immunodeficiency Disease:
1. Four or more new ear infections within 1 year.
2. Two or more serious sinus infections within 1 year. 3. Two or more months on antibiotics with little effect.
4. Two or more pneumonias within 1 year.
5. Failure of an infant to gain weight or grow normally.
6. Recurrent deep skin abcess or organ abcess.
7. Persistent oral thrush or fungal infection on the skin.
8. Need for Intravenous (IV) antibiotics for infections.
9. Two or more deep-seated infections including septicemia (sepsis) 10. Family history of Primary Immunodeficiency.
If your child or someone you know has two or more of these signs, please consult your pediatrician immediately. Having early diagnosis and early intervention is key to a good recovery.
For more infor mation about PID, please do not hesitate to contact: The Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology www.psaai.org / psaai.secretariat@yahoo.com.ph.
Dr. Celeste Gomez, M.D. , DPPS is a Visiting Consultant in The Medical City and an Active Consultant in Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center. A graduate of the University of the Philippines, College of Medicine, she is currently a Diplomate of the Philippine Pediatric Society. As a member of the IFM with a medical background, Dr. Celeste balances conventional medicine with appropriate and in-depth personal nutritional and lifestyle advice. She enjoys regular tennis sessions, swimming, and windsurfing.