Answer to question about frequent colds

[Guest guest]

Hi Dolph,

My son Keaton has the usual number of colds that a child would have during

the daycare and school ages. We have become even more diligent about

washing hands as soon as we come home and before eating which has helped

with the frequency of colds, although it was sparked due to the SARS scare

here in Toronto.

My son did, however, have an immune system issue which manifested when he

was 4 months old with abscesses around his anus. The medical term for this

is a fistula which is basically an infection around his bottom that can only

be cleared up with surgery. The blood tests showed he had neutropenia,

which meant his white blood cells developed just to a certain point but then

stopped which made him unable to fight bacterial infections.

We used to give him injections of a drug to boost his white blood cell count

commonly used by cancer patients called GCSF. If someone's neutrophyl count

is below a certain # they basically can't go outside or have outside contact

due to their inability to fight infections.

I know that when my son did catch a cold this would have an impact on his

blood counts, although technically a cold is a virus and the neutrophyl

fights bacterial infections. When he did catch a cold we would give him an

injection, even though it may not have been time for a shot.

Thankfully, my son outgrew this blood condition and no longer needs

injections of GCSF. We no longer do tests of his blood count so I'm not

sure if he has a lower than usual count. I suspect so as we have to be

diligent about washing his private areas or he gets irritations or

infections.

I certainly don't want to alarm you which is one of the reasons why I hadn't

responded earlier.

I agree with an earlier writer that says to ride it out and not be too

worried.

Definitely starting with washing hands more frequently and for the

appropriate amount of time, (the time it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' is

what they teach the kids at our daycare).

el.

Evergreen Lee

397 Freeman Crescent,

Oakville, ON L6H 4R4

Phone: 905 338-8762

Fax: 905 338-1157

Cell: 416 526-7581

>From: " A.J. Heideman " <ajheideman@...>

>Reply-blepharophimosis

><blepharophimosis >

>Subject: Re: blepharophimosis Just a question

>Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2006 17:56:45 +0200

>

>Hello all,

>We had 2 reactions on our question, that's rather skinny for a group of 473

>persons. Thanks anywhay.

>Dolph Heideman

>

> blepharophimosis Just a question

>

>

>

> Hiello to all of you,

>

> It seems that our granddaughter (2 years 3 months) is having a cold

>more often as the other children in Kindergarten. We can not remember that

>her father, our son (having blepharophimoses was) so often having a cold

>as she has. Is there anyone in the group having the same experience or is

>it just a coincidence?

>

> Wishing you all a fine day an best regards from a sunny and warm

>Holland,

>

> Dolph Heideman

> ajheideman@...

> http://members.lycos.nl/dolphheideman/index-nl.html (nederlands)

> http://members.lycos.nl/dolphheideman/index-d.html (deutsch)

>

>

>