Patient Information: Children/ Adolescents

• Could my child possibly have an immunodeficiency?

  I Immunodeficiencies are very rare diseases, so the likelihood of a congenital immunodeficiency is low! Symptoms and signs pointing to a congenital immunodeficiency can include frequent, severe infections (requiring hospitalization), infections due to atypical pathogens, multiple autoimmune or inflammatory diseases (the body attacks itself). Other indications for consulting our specialty clinic are early-onset inflammatory bowel disease, or unexplained recurrent fevers.

    

• Which immunodeficiencies are treated at the UCID?

  I The UCID primarily deals with congenital immunodeficiencies (diagnosed in childhood and adulthood), (congenital) neutropenias, (congenital) periodic fever syndromes/ autoinflammatory disorders, or secondary immunodeficiencies (after chemotherapy or biologic therapy). We do NOT have expertise in the treatment and diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long COVID, or Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

    

• How are appointments scheduled for the UCID?

    For an initial consultation, appointment in our immunological speciality clinic, please consult your general practitioner/pediatrician to discuss whether a referral to us would be beneficial. Afterward, please send your documents to us, including a letter of referral for the pediatric clinic outpatient department (patients <18 years) or for the Medical Clinic I - Hematology Department (patients >18 years). Contact details can be found under the "Information for Patients" tab on our website.

    

• I am a patient in the immunology speciality clinic. Who can I contact to request a prescription, ask about my lab results, or reschedule my appointment?

    Please contact the responsible outpatient departments via email for these matters. Provide your name, date of birth, and the clinic where you/your child is being treated (Immunology). Contact details can be found under the "Information for Patients" tab on our website.

    

• I am the treating physician of a patient being treated in the immunology speciality clinic. Who can I contact with my inquiries or questions?

    Please contact the responsible outpatient department by phone or email for this. Contact details can be found under the "Information for Pediatricians" tab on our website. You may also request to be directed to the pediatric immunologist at our clinic.

    

• How can I connect with other patients with congenital immunodeficiencies?

    There are various ways to connect with other people with congenital immunodeficiencies and possibly exchange experiences. Often, affected individuals or their parents are self-supporting in patient organizations, such as the (DSAI) Patient Organization for People with Congenital Immunodeficiencies (DSAI).

Some immune disorders become apparent or are diagnosed later in life or in adulthood. If your patient already has a diagnosed immunodeficiency, or if you strongly suspect a congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, a consultation for adult patients at the University Center for Chronic Immunodeficiencies (MK I, Hematology Department) is possible.

This should be done urgently in consultation with your treating general practitioner/specialist.

For this, we request a recent blood draw (differential blood count, creatinine/GFR, gamma-glutamyl transferase, ALT, immunoglobulins A, G, M, E, and possibly vaccine titers); preferrably not older than 3 months.

Additionally, please send us the completed questionnaire, a letter of referral and reasons for the suspected immunodeficiency, as well as a summary of theprevious findings/medical reports.

Based on this information, a decision will be made on whether consultation and further diagnostics are advisable, and we will provide you with an appointment. You will be informed of this appointment in writing.