THE SCIeNCE BEHIND ScID
Summary of the Genetic Disorder and Symptoms
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According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, a very frequent Symptom of SCID is Severe Respiratory infections. In Addition, other symptoms of SCID are poor growth, rashes, chronic diarrhea and recurrent thrush in the mouth (“SCID Symptoms and Diagnoses”). An unusual infection that comes with SCID early on is Pneumocystis Pneumonia, when this infection is present, it’s a red flag to examine the immune system for SCID (“SCID Symptoms and Diagnoses”). SCID is associated with recurrent viral infections and causes several hospitalizations before it is discovered. (“SCID Symptoms and Diagnoses”). |
Treatments
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According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology SCID Treatment & Management, the only cure currently and routinely available for SCID is a bone marrow transplant which provides a new immune system to the patient (“Conditions and Treatments”). ” In addition, Boston Children's Hospitals quotes, “[SCID] is a very rare genetic disorder affecting between 50 and 100 children born in the U.S. every year” (“Conditions and Treatments”).National human genome research institute the most common type. |
Mode of Genetic Inheritance
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One of the many ways to get SCID is by your parents (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency). One inherits this disorder from their parents by both or one parent having SCID. If your Grandparents had the disorder your parent would have a 50% chance of getting SCID . Which would leave you-their child- to also have a 50% chance of getting the disorder. A Second way of inheriting SCID is something called X-linked. Being X-linked is how you get SCID without one or both of your parents having it. |
How common is the Genetic Disorder
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According to: genome.gov SCID is a disease that is present in birth. SCID causes you to have no immune system, but is very rare to have. Only about 40 to 100 children have SCID, but it is uncertain how many children die of this rare disease, the number could be higher. If a baby is showing any of these symptoms within their first year of the baby's life, she or he should be evaluated for SCID:
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3 Current Research Project
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Many different tests and research projects have been done to learn more about the SCID and the following three are some that have been worked on recently. One, scientists have been researching if SCID can be detected before birth. They test this by sequencing DNA from the fetus which is an unborn offspring of a mammal in this case a human being. Second, scientists have also been researching is if there is an effective treatment for SCID. According to the Genome Reset National Human Institute, so far the most effective treatment is transplantation of blood-forming stem cells from the bone marrow of a healthy person ( Learning About Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) . Finally, scientists have been researching what they need to know about the relation between SCID and the immune system. Scientists are learning more about this by studying different types of blood cells specially Lymphocytes, which is a white blood cell with a single round nucleus, occurring especially in the lymphatic system. Something the research has proven is that SCID is a group of inherited disorders that causes severe abnormalities of the immune system. |
“Learning About Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID).” National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), 2 June 2014, www.genome.gov/13014325/learning-about-severe-combined-immunodeficiency-scid/.
“Learning About Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID).” National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), www.genome.gov/13014325/learning-about-severe-combined-immunodeficiency-scid/.a3
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“Severe Combined Immunodeficiency | AAAAI.” The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/primary-immunodeficiency-disease/severe-combined-immunodeficiency.
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.” Edited by Stephen J. McGeady, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Sept. 2012, kidshealth.org/en/parents/severe-immunodeficiency.html.
“Learning About Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID).” National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), www.genome.gov/13014325/learning-about-severe-combined-immunodeficiency-scid/.a3
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“Severe Combined Immunodeficiency | AAAAI.” The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/primary-immunodeficiency-disease/severe-combined-immunodeficiency.
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.” Edited by Stephen J. McGeady, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Sept. 2012, kidshealth.org/en/parents/severe-immunodeficiency.html.