Evaluation of Patient Follow-up with Transient Hypogammaglobulinemia in Infancy Diagnosis

Abstract

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical, laboratory and demographic characteristics of patients with THI who were admitted with the suspicion of recurrent infection and immunodeficiency. Methods: The study included 287 patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of transient hypogammaglobulinemia in infancy at Selçuk University Meram Faculty of Medicine, Child Health and Diseases Department and Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, between November 2001 and November 2006. The age, gender, the age of the complaints and diagnosis, clinical features, family history and laboratory findings of the patients were examined. The data of the patients were collected by using the hospital file and the records in the Pediatric Immunology cards. Results: 195 (67.9%) of the patients were male and 92 (32.1%) were female (p <0.05). The M/F ratio was 2.1. The age of diagnosis ranged from 8 months to 48 months with a mean of 24.6±11.3 months. The duration between the complaints and the age of diagnosis was between 1 and 63 months and the mean age was 13.5±8.6 months. Complaints of the patients were recurrent upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) 54.35% (n:156), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) 50.52% (n:145), sinusitis 41.26% (n:118), recurrent otitis, 28.22% (n:81), asthma finding 12.89% (n=37), allergic skin and rhinitis findings 10.45% (n:30), gastroenteritis 6.96% (n:20), urinary tract infection 4.18% (n:12), and moniliazis was 3.83% (n:11). Conclusion: THI is usually a self-recovering disease around three years of age. In order to prevent complications such as chronic lung disease and to reduce morbidity, it is important to follow up the cases regularly.