SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENCY

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency is a group of genetic disorders that causes abnormalities in the immune system. This makes the victim unable to fight off infections.

In it's most common form, SCID is in the X chromosome and only affects males since they only have 1 X chromosome and not 2 like women. But in rarer cases, there can be other causes for SCID.

WHO IT EFFECTS

• SCID's most common form only affects males.
• It does this because males only have 1 X chromosome
• It is passed down from the mother since she has 2 x Chromosomes
• But in very rare case, a women could be born with SCID

SYMPTOMS

• Increased susceptibility to infections at and early age
• Example: Strep Throat, gingivitis, ect.
• If left undetected and untreated, the child will die within the first year
• The only options are let it die or give it a sterile environment

TREATMENTS

• The child, in order to survive, would have to live in a sterile place
• The doctor could give it antibiotics to help fight off an infection
• The child could receive a stem cell transplant that could help rebuild the immune system

FACTS

• David Vetter lived his whole life in a sterile environment
• NASA even made a suit for him so he could go outside
• He died at the age of twelve after a Bone Marrow transplant