Signs to identify children with congenital immunodeficiency disease

Article written by BSCK I. Do Thi Thao, Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Congenital immunodeficiency is a defect or deficiency in a certain component of the immune system due to innate. Children with this disease will often have infections that are difficult to treat, causing many dangerous complications if not treated early. So what are the telltale signs of this disease?

Our body's immune cells include: T, B lymphocytes, NK cells, macrophages and the complement system. There are two types of immunodeficiency in children: congenital immunodeficiency and acquired immunodeficiency. Congenital immunodeficiency is a defect or deficiency in a component of the immune system that is congenital, associated with genetic and genetic abnormalities, including impairment or defect of the immune system. T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, NK cells, or macrophages.
The important role of the immune system is to fight viral and bacterial infections, so in these immunocompromised children, they will appear to be susceptible to infections, have multiple infections at the same time, or unusually severe infections. or infections that are difficult to treat. Common infections such as sinusitis , bronchitis , pneumonia , intestinal infections .

According to Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF), older children have 10 telltale signs of congenital immunodeficiency disease:
Eight or more ear infections within 1 year. Severe sinusitis two or more times within a year. There are two or more months of antibiotics that are not effective. Have pneumonia twice or more within a year. No weight gain and normal growth. Recurrent organ or subcutaneous tissue abscesses. Oral thrush or persistent tinea versicolor.

Antibiotics are needed to completely treat the infection. Severe infection, sepsis two or more in a year. Family history of primary immunodeficiency: history of recurrent infections, autoimmune disease, unexplained death (under 30 years old).

Children under 1 year of age with congenital immunodeficiency disease will show 12 signs:
Severe and persistent infection; Reactions to live vaccines, especially tuberculosis vaccines; Other autoimmune inflammatory manifestations; Septicemia cannot isolate pathogenic bacteria; Severe eczema ; Persistent diarrhea ; Congenital heart (large artery abnormalities); Delayed umbilical cord shedding (>30 days);

Family history of congenital immunodeficiency or premature death from infection; Lymphoma < 2500 persistent; Hypocalcemia, convulsions; No thymus shadow. If the child has 2 or more warning signs of the above signs, we must think about whether the child has congenital immunodeficiency or not. In this case, parents need to take the baby to the doctor soon to have a diagnostic test for the child.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious and knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.