Immunodeficiency in children Flashcards
What is the difference between primary and secondary immunodeficiency?
Primary: Usually congenital. Is a result of genetic defects in components of the immune system.
Secondary: Also referred to as acquired. Is a result of other conditions/diseases such as HIV, malnutrition or immunosuppression.
When should a primary immunodeficiency be suspected?
Frequent severe infections.
Infections with unusual pathogens.
Abscesses.
Failure to thrive.
HIV is known to cause immunodeficiency. Which immunological cells are primarily affected by HIV?
CD4+ T cells / T helper cells.
Immunodeficiencies are usually divided into three categories. Which ones?
Humoral immunodeficiency: Affects the production of antibodies.
Cellular immunodeficiency: Affects cellular immune reactions.
Combined immunodeficiency: A combination of humoral and cellular immunodeficiency.
What is the most common humoral immunodeficiency?
IgA deficiency.
What are symptoms and signs of IgA deficiency?
50-80% of patients are asymptomatic.
Recurrent sinopulmonary infections is the most frequent manifestation.
May have severe malabsorption (chronic diarrhea).
Isolated low IgA level.
Patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia are usually asymptomatic the first period of life. When is usually the onset of symptoms?
6 months.
How common is it for healthy children of preschool age to have upper airway infections?
Up to once a month until five years of age.
What are common causes of neutropenia?
Bone marrrow infiltration, as in leukemia.
Chemotherapy.
What is used to treat varicella infections?
Acyclovir.
What is empirical antibiotic treatment of febrile neutropenia?
Ampicillin eller benzylpencillin and gentamicin intravenously. (Treatment should be started early.)
Pip-Tazo ved septisk pasient.
True or false: Vaccines against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and HiB are alright, even for children with immunodeficiencies.
True. Live vaccines, like MMR and BCG, are considered unsafe.
