Dayna Fladhammer
Dayna Fladhammer is a former junior high school teacher, the mom of three children with Primary Immune Deficiency, and author of My IVIG Book Kit with her son, Charlie.
My sister-in-law has a 4-yr old boy with PI and she smokes in the house, in the car, while he sleeps, etc. The poor little guy is sick all the time. Could the cigarette smoke be hindering his well being?
Great question! I'd like to answer the question about smoking and its effects on your nephew, and also address the issue of talking with your sister-in-law.
Certainly, it is well known that second-hand smoke is dangerous to any person, regardless of immune system status.
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS), second-hand smoke (commonly called ETS - Environmental Tobacco Smoke) "decreases lung efficiency and impairs lung function" in children who are exposed to it. ETS can also increase the frequency and severity of asthma, sinus infections, chronic respiratory problems, colds, sore throats, and ear infections, according to AAOHNS.
I would suggest discussing this with your sister-in-law in the least confrontational way possible. You might consider involving another family member she trusts and have them discuss the situation with her, if your relationship with her is at all strained. If you share a pediatrician, they are often willing to step in and help with such situations.
Very often, as parents of Immune Deficient Children, we are subjected to other people's judgments of how we handle our children's illness. Frequently parents of PI kids are made to feel as if they are either overreacting, or somehow causing their children's illness, especially in the early stages of the diagnosis process. That can leave a parent defensive and guarded as you deal with the emotional impact a life-changing disease has on your family. I would strongly suggest that the best way to approach this is in the least confrontational manner. It might even help to offer assistance, including resources or tools to help stop smoking.
If your sister-in-law is unable to cease smoking, perhaps you can work with her to limit the amount of second-hand smoke your nephew is exposed to. A plan to limit his exposure might include only smoking outside, and never in the car with the children present. Good luck!
I have a 7-year-old son, and he is sick all of the time and though I have taken him to all sorts of doctors, they all say “it’s allergies,” “it’s his asthma,” and so forth. We are treating him for all of this, but during the school year, he catches everything, and he doesn’t respond to antibiotics well after the first round. It usually takes 3-4 rounds of antibiotics before he begins to get over any illness. He keeps a constant ear infection, sinus infection, bronchitis, etc. I just recently heard the commercial on T.V. about P.I. and it sounded a lot like what my son has been going through. Is it possible that he could have this at 7 years old?
Thank you so much for another wonderful question! Let me start by answering the first part of your question.
"Is it possible for him to have this at 7 years old?"
Yes! PI does not discriminate; it affects both children and adults of both sexes! It is possible for this to have begun being a problem at 7, and it is also possible that he could have been living with this for years without being diagnosed.
According to an Immune Deficiency Foundation Survey of Patients, the average time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis in the United States is 9.2 years. So, on average, it takes 9.2 years for the doctors to put all the signs, symptoms, and concerns together and find the root cause for many patients. Of course, an average is just that – an average. Some patients, like my own children, are diagnosed much more quickly, but some wait 10 - 20 years to get a clear answer on what is causing their frequent severe infections. It is entirely possible that your son could be 7, and not yet diagnosed!
As for your son, my first piece of advice to any parent is always "Trust your instincts!" If you feel like something more is at play, listen to that feeling and advocate for him!
If you decide you want to have your son tested, I would recommend you find your state on the expert locator portion of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation website and make an appointment to see a clinical immunologist who takes your insurance. Unfortunately, not every state has clinical immunologists, and in some cases it may require lengthy travel.
If you are located in a state without an immunologist, and you cannot travel, and your pediatrician does not have access to an immunologist to consult with, there is a program available through the Immune Deficiency Foundation. It's called the Consulting Immunologist Program. It is available for physician-to-physician conversations regarding proper testing for patients in those states where there are little or no immunological resources.
As in the previous question, I want to reiterate, many parents of immune deficient children were once told they were overreacting or that there was some other cause of their children's frequent infections. You are your son's best advocate! Please follow up with us here at the PI Panel, and let us know how it goes. If your son is diagnosed, I would love to point you in the direction of some of the amazing resources available! Best of luck to your family!
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