Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

The blood of a two week-old infant is collected for a Phenylketonuria, or PKU, screening Dec. 12 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. PJU is a recessive genetic disorder that can cause problems with brain development, which could lead to mental retardation and seizures. All infants born at Eielson are screened for PKU at their two week well baby check up appointment. (U.S Air Force photo/Staff Sgt Eric T. Sheler)
(SCID) is a group of rare disorders caused by mutations in different genes involved in the development and function of infection-fighting T, B, and natural killer cells. Infants with SCID appear healthy at birth but are highly susceptible to severe infections. The condition is fatal, usually within the first year or two of life, unless infants receive immune-restoring treatments, such as transplants of blood-forming stem cells, gene therapy, or enzyme therapy. More than 80 percent of SCID infants do not have a family history of the condition. However, development of a newborn screening test has made it possible to detect SCID before symptoms appear, helping ensure that affected infants receive life-saving treatments.
Causes
SCID is caused by defects in different genes involved in the development and function of infection-fighting immune cells. More than a dozen genes have been implicated in SCID, but gene defects are unknown in approximately 15 percent of newborn-screened SCID infants.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Typically, symptoms of SCID occur in infancy and include serious or life-threatening infections, especially viral infections, which result in pneumonia and chronic diarrhea. Candida(yeast) infections of the mouth and diaper area and pneumonia caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii also are common in affected infants.
You can also download the booklet from IPOPI on SCID |