10 warning signs every parent must know

It's back to school time and with it comes the typical season of coughs, colds and other bugs our kids pick up. So what do you do when your child seems to be coming down with frequent ear infections or a sinus infection that just seems to never go away? Could it be something else that is causing your child all this discomfort? Usually it's not serious but, when the frequency of illnesses is high, or antibiotics your child has taken has had little effect, maybe it is something more.

Some children are actually born with or inherit a broken or no immune system and it is called a Primary Immunodeficiency (PID). Everyone needs a healthy immune system to guard the body from infections. Commonly, physicians treat our children's infections not realizing that there may be an underlying cause. If you are concerned about your child's health speak with your child's physician - 50% of Primary Immunodeficiency cases go undiagnosed! Infections will recur, can lead to organ damage, physical disability and even death if not caught early. There is effective treatment if diagnosed.

Every parent should know these 10 PID Warning Signs

1. Eight 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 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

These warning signs were developed by The Jeffrey Modell Foundation Medical Advisory Board © 2006

If your child has two or more of these signs, ask your doctor about Primary Immunodeficiency Disease (PID). It could save your child's life.

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Credit: www.newscanada.com