Any ideas for boosting immune system to prevent onset of strep/PANDAS

[AmySLP]

I am very fortunate not to have needed to access this board over the last 3-4 months. My daughter Allison who is now almost five, contracted a strep infection nearly a year ago that remained chronic until march of this year. Over six months time she had 6-7 positive strep cultures and the Epstein Barr virus (Mono) as well. For over six months she demonstrated worsening symptoms of anxiety/OCD, facial tics, and emotional lability, that really peaked when she was off ABX (ammox. and augmentin). She was diagnosed with PANDAS in early April by Dr. Latimer (neuro. in DC). This was three weeks after being given Cleocin by a doctor covering for her regular pediatrician. Thank God for a new doctor just out of medical school who had actually heard of PANDAS (he's now our regular pediatrician). At the time we saw Dr. Latimer, Allison's symptoms were mild in comparison to what they had been prior to the Cleocin. By the end of April, she was symptom free of strep and PANDAS. We are very thankful that we never had to get to IVIG treatments....But, b/c Allison does have this history, I am extremely scared as she will start Kindergarten in 7 weeks that she will be exposed to strep and this ugly monster will reappear.

 

Any ideas or info. or referrals to someone to find ways to boost her immune system to try and ward off strep/PANDAS?

 

Thanks so much,

 

Amy

[ShaesMom]

Amy,

 

Our dd7 has Pandas and was also just dx'd with a primary immune deficiency. She had her first strep infection around 18 months and several every year since. She also has a long history of UTI's and chronic constipation.

 

If your daughter has a history of often getting sick, ear infection, sinus infections, URI's, you may want to talk with your doctor about running some addt'l tests on her immune system to make sure it is working correctly.

 

We did the following addt'l blood work on our daughter:

 

IGG & IGG subclasses

IGA

IGM

Pneumococccal Titers

 

Our daughter had normal results on everything except the Pneumococcal Titers which she failed big time. She has now been dx'd with an immune deficiency called Specific Antibody Deficiency with Normal Immunoglobins. Her Immunologist has just submitted a request to insurance based on this dx for IVIG.

 

You can go to website www.jmfworld.com and click on the link to find a professional Immunologist in your area who works with immune deficiencies.

 

If you have any questions, you can private email me.

 

Sam

[greeneyes48072]

I plan to utilize the phrophylatic use of the antibiotics for a long time. We are also doing Ester C, Follic Acid, Vitamin E and Fish Oil daily as recommended by Dr K...

[Suzan]

We saw this doctor in Florida for a while and I really like his approach. We were not seeing him for PANDAS at the time however. But I like these articles he has about boosting the immune system. I thought I would pass them along. Also, I would recommend him as a resource if anyone is looking for a doctor in Florida.

 

http://wholisticpeds.com/default.asp?cid=9...;n1=1&n2=39

 

http://www.wholisticpeds.com/uploads/on%20...f%20illness.pdf