DownSyn Forum

[Celestialangela]

Ok, here's the deal: 4 year old son with DS, he's currently my foster child, but we are only a couple of months away from finalizing his adoption. He goes to early intervention and a preschool, and he's always sick! He has dysphagia and Laryngeal Cleft, and subglottic stenosis as well, but every virus that goes around, well he gets it! Someone told me that kids with DS have somewhat compromised immune systems, but our pediatrician says there's no data to support this. What's your experience? It's usually nothing major, just a low grade fever, feeling crummy, not eating well, etc. Every time I take him to the dr, they say "it's a virus, lots of fluids and rest". I'm starting to think that I'm just paranoid. Are your kids sick a lot too? We wash hands all the time, and I sterilize toys...help! Could he have allergies?

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Mom to three boys, two with autism and teenagers, and a 4 year old with Down Syndrome.

[LinMac]

At four my son was extremely healthty....much more than my typical daughter at that age. My niece at four who also has DS is quite like your child.
I think its just a health lottery.

From September to December Robert had more illness than he's ever had. He missed a lot of school and we were home bound nursing him. Hes been fine the last few months.

I'm not sure what else to say, just wanted to share our experiences and express my hopes that as your boy gets older he'll be better able to fight these infections.
Hope other members might have more tips to help!

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Linda & John
mom to Hannah Kate (Age 14 ), Robert (Aged 9 - DS)


First Communion Day

[Gracies mom]

Hi apart from all the major health problems Grace has, she actually has a fantastic immune system. Her surgeon said she would be prone to chest infections but she hasn't had any at all, and she's 17 mths and has had only one cough and one cold. Oh and one bug with vomit and diarrhoea but other than that she's been a picture of health. I think it's a lot to do with the fact that Grace isn't in nursery yet, although we do do lots of therapy groups. A lot of my friends have typical children in nurserys and they pick up everything going too.

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Cheryl mom to Hannah 10/11/94, Grace 30/11/10 ds, Stepmom to Ethen 30/06/00 and wife to John married Aug 06

[DanielsMommy]

I think part of the reasoning behind 'kids with Ds get sick more' is (for us at least)...the nasal passages and airways are smaller and therefore, can't clear up as quickly as a person without Ds. If my son and daughter both get a cold...for my son it almost always turns into a sinus infection because the small passages block up and get infected.

However, that being said, Danny doesn't get sick all that often. I'd say he is as healthy as a child without Ds. Some are sick less, but some are sick more. He'd fall right in the middle I'd say.

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Lisa - Mommy to Elayna 10-1-02 and Daniel (Ds) 6-7-05
Always have hope....Without rain, there can be no rainbows.

[Celestialangela]

It's good for me to hear your experiences, and to follow my "mom's instinct". I am going to have some tests run to see if there's anything else going on. I think that there is a reason why he gets sick all the time, and I want to further investigate. Maybe I'm off, but maybe I'm right and there's some celiac or gluten issues or something that's contributing to him not being as well as he could be. It's so nice to have this community to bounce ideas off of, I appreciate your time, and your kids are beautiful, I've got to get more techno savy so that I can post a picture of my little one. XOXO

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Mom to three boys, two with autism and teenagers, and a 4 year old with Down Syndrome.

[naomid]

has he had a CBC (complete blood count) done? they should be able to look at the results and see if the immune system is compromised at all.

My son had a condition call autoimmune neutropenia which was picked up during a routine blood test when he was about 2 1/2 years old. It meant that his neutophile (which fight infections) were much lower than usual. For him it lasted until about age 6 when he grew out of it. During that time he was at an increased risk of infections, but he was actually pretty healthy apart from a few ear/sinus infections. This wasn't related to his DS at all and the doctor said that if he had been a typical child then it probably wouldn't have been diagnosed (due to not having routine blood work).

Not saying that this is what your son has, but it is worth getting blood work looked at.

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Naomi
Mum to Callum (DS) 3/03 and Kieran 8/04
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[seansmom]

That is one of the first things that I was told and have read regarding children with DS. Now it doesn't mean all of them will have low immunity but I guess a good percentage does. We were advised by our pediatrician to get a flu shot for him as well as all of us every year. On the list of people who got it for free were people with DS due to low immunity. That's a personal choice though as I know a lot of people don't believe in flu shots.

I found that Sean was sick the first 4 years and then after that he really changed. Though once he started Kindergarten he caught a lot of minor colds. Even typical children go through that. They are just around way more kids to catch stuff from.

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Kellie Mom to Sean 10 yrs with DS and Carly 14 yrs

[ajbest]

yes, he could have allergies. can run low grade fevers w/ allergies and/or sinus infections. when you say virus...do you mean vomitting or cold type symptoms??? our daughter has fought sinus issues for too long!

allergy testing showed allergies to cats and dogs. sleep study showed apnea (altho we never had any signs - does not snore, etc.) so...she is soon to get tonsils & adenoids out to hopefully ward off the constant infections as well as eliminate the sleep apnea.

see an ENT, push for blood work - they can test his immunity (IgG) and do allergy testing. he may need to be on something for allergies, may need a sleep study done. getting the adenoids and/or tonsils out could open up those small passages and keep him from getting infections/junk trapped in his head. Janna's tonsils are not that big but, w/ the apnea & classic narrow throat, they are coming out!

hope your little man can get some relief. here are some things we've done/still do to help with alergies/infections/all the junk in her head;

Zyrtec daily
Saline nasal spray 2- 4 X day
Humidifier at night
Manuka Honey
Juice Plus Vitamins
Cut out cow's milk several yrs ago (eliminates flem &/or he could be allergic) can try soy milk for few weeks to see if congestion improves
Flo-nase 1 X day (point twd ears when spraying in nose)
Probiotics (1 X day - Phillips brand at Wal-mart for kids 3 & over)

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Momma to Janna Macie (CAVCanal/Mitral Valve Repair-T21-02/02/05)
Wife to Joseph (TOF & still thriving)



"Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance." St. Francis of Assisi

"God has not always answered my prayers. If He had, I would have married the wrong man several times." Ruth Bell Graham

[TheBradyBunch]

Noah used to get sick ALL the time. A few things contributed. He has celiac disease, so when that wasn't under control he was sick pretty much all the time. Once that was under control, it was about the same time he started preschool (by the time he was fully recovered from it), preschool is a cesspool. Kids get sick ALL the time in preschool. Noah had his tonsils and adenoids out, and he has been so much healthier. The boogers are almost non existent now, other than when he's actually sick, which isn't often anymore. Noah was a horrible mouth breather before because he couldn't breathe through his nose thanks to the adenoids. His swallowing has also improved drastically since having his tonsils out. He hardly ever gags now, where as before he would gag after almost ever bite. Not to mention the sleep apnea he had. He also has hypothyroid, which is under control with synthroid and has been for over a year now. I also supplement him with B12, he used to bruise too easily, so easily in fact just wiping his bum during a diaper change would leave petachaie bruising on his bum.

Now that all of his health issues have been worked out (well, for the most part), and he is receiving adequate nutrition thanks to the g-tube, he is SO MUCH healthier. He rarely gets sick, and when he does, it's something that is going through the whole house.

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Mom to: Nicholas (May/02), Nathan (April/04), Charlene (June/06), Noah (DS, ASD) (May/07), Jesse Lynn (July/08 ), Tessa (Apr/10), Kaitlyn (Jun/12)

"Sometimes the things we can't change end up changing us"

[Rae]

Sam is seven and has been sick alot. Mostly with ear and sinus infections. I got fed up in January (after he was hospitalized with ear infection and pneumonia). i started himon Nutrivene for the antioxidents and took him off dairy. He has been much better, only two sinus infections since then and we were in doctor's office every three weeks prior to that. Good luck.

[Celestialangela]

Thank you for the replies! We just finished all the testing and he tested negative for Celiac, but showed some sensitivities for allergens so started daily allergy medication. We eliminated dairy and are washing hands even more than before! Knock on wood, he hasn't been sick for over 6 weeks! Thanks again, it was so nice knowing that you all were available.

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Mom to three boys, two with autism and teenagers, and a 4 year old with Down Syndrome.

[TracyR]

What a relief that he was negative for celiac. Not that it is such a big deal, but it is one less thing to worry about!