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Immune system worries?

Elizabeth - posted on 05/31/2011 ( 2 moms have responded )

My son DJ (David) is 8 years old and is our little dude. He just suffered the worst experience of his life and ours. He was hospitalized for complicated pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome. He went into cardiac arrest twice. My question is, anyone else have a low immune system child And what do u do? I don't want this
to happen again. We see immunology in Aug, but until then we keep him home. Worried Mom And Dad

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Elizabeth - posted on 05/31/2011

Thank you for your advice. We will use your five rules. What tests were run on your daughter to diagnose her immune system? I'm trying to make ure they (docs) don't miss anything. They have him on singular once a day, 365.

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Jane - posted on 05/31/2011

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My daughter was born with an incomplete immune system, although we did not find that out until she was 2 1/2 years old and had had an ear infection since she was four months old. Of the four immune globulins she only makes two. She has no IgA and almost no IgM.

What do we do:

1) Make absolutely certain she gets enough sleep.

2) Watch her like a hawk for any signs of illness and get her to an understanding doctor ASAP.

3) Tolerate sometimes having to put her on prophylactic antibiotics for weeks at a time.

4) Using a chlorox solution on all the surfaces of kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and playroom.

5) Teaching her teachers about her situation, and sending hand sanitizer to school as often as necessary.

As she has gotten older other parts of her immune system have stepped in to help her stave off infection, but we still have to follow those five steps. Any "little" head cold can turn into pneumonia at the drop of a hat, so we are forever vigilant.