This information supports, and does not replace, advice from your healthcare professional.
Overview
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a severely weakened immune system, making affected individuals extremely vulnerable to infections.
Symptoms
Frequent and severe infections Failure to thrive in infants Chronic diarrhea Persistent mouth or skin infections Delayed growth and development
Causes
Genetic mutations affecting immune system development Inherited in an autosomal recessive or X-linked pattern
Diagnosis
Blood tests for immune cell counts and function Genetic testing Newborn screening in some countries
Treatment
Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation Immunoglobulin replacement therapy Preventive antibiotics and antifungals Isolation from infectious exposures