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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Allergies § Puberty or Immune Deficiencies?
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This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis
Allergies § Puberty or Immune Deficiencies?
by starion, Oct 19, 2002 12:00AM
Dear LungLine Nurse,
My son is nearly 15. He has had mild intermittent asthma since infancy, as well as significant allergies to molds, dust mites & many air borne irritants. Over the past four years, he has had one "cold" or infection or virus after another. In fact, he missed about 1/4 of his school year last year & frequently went to school ill so he wouldn't miss even more school (the year before he missed a little less). He is also frequently unwell on weekends, holidays & vacations & is missing out on more & more activities because of feeling poorly. He frequently complains of being chilled and low grade fevers, nausea, chronic cough, frequent throat clearing. His pediatrician, allergists, and pediatric gastroenterologists have not been able to help us keep him healthier & he appears healthy. He has never been to the ER or hospital, never had pneumonia or ear infections.
At what point should we go to yet another specialist to see if her might have some immune deficiency, or do we just continue to chalk the chronic poor health off to puberty with allergies? (He only missed one day of preschool in two years & had been healthy until these past four years.) What type of specialist might be helpful & what type(s) of testing? Thanks for your help!
Aloha,
Starion
My son is nearly 15. He has had mild intermittent asthma since infancy, as well as significant allergies to molds, dust mites & many air borne irritants. Over the past four years, he has had one "cold" or infection or virus after another. In fact, he missed about 1/4 of his school year last year & frequently went to school ill so he wouldn't miss even more school (the year before he missed a little less). He is also frequently unwell on weekends, holidays & vacations & is missing out on more & more activities because of feeling poorly. He frequently complains of being chilled and low grade fevers, nausea, chronic cough, frequent throat clearing. His pediatrician, allergists, and pediatric gastroenterologists have not been able to help us keep him healthier & he appears healthy. He has never been to the ER or hospital, never had pneumonia or ear infections.
At what point should we go to yet another specialist to see if her might have some immune deficiency, or do we just continue to chalk the chronic poor health off to puberty with allergies? (He only missed one day of preschool in two years & had been healthy until these past four years.) What type of specialist might be helpful & what type(s) of testing? Thanks for your help!
Aloha,
Starion
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Oct 24, 2002 12:00AM
, Oct 24, 2002 12:00AM
I think it is time!! I am sure that your son's friends are not continually sick, like your son. It is a good idea to make sure there is no other problem predisposing your son to these problems. This could be a sinus infection or other chronic situation. You might push your allergist a little to see what he/she thinks are the next steps in this evaluation. A sinus CT scan is an easy first step.
Thanks for your guidance. I'll speak to the allergist next week, when I'm there for my immunotherapy shots. Starion