Bengaluru: Primary Immune Deficiency (PID) diseases are inherited disorders of the immune system that predispose individuals to recurrent infections, some of them life threatening.
Aster CMI Hospital plans to create awareness on PID diseases on the occasion of World Immunology Day on April 29 by creating an ecosystem of collaboration among science, trained personnel and advanced diagnostics to provide the affected children a lifeline of hope and care.
“Children, irrespective of caste, creed or status in society, will become victims of Primary Immune Deficiency diseases. Diagnosing early such children will help to make them normal. Lack of awareness about this disease is the main reason for the delay in diagnosing,’’ said Dr Sagar Bhattad, Consultant Pediatric Rheumatologist & Immunologist, Aster CMI Hospital.
According to Dr Chetan Ginigeri, Consultant Pediatric Intensivist, these patients remain largely undiagnosed due to lack of awareness amongst medical fraternity. “The parents might have taken their child to several doctors without knowing the need to have a proper diagnosis,’’ said Dr Chetan Ginigeri.
Lack of availability of laboratory facilities is another challenge in getting these children diagnosed in time. Children with PID diseases would have been admitted several times under many doctors before they seek an opinion of an immunologist. This would result in significant psychological trauma and substantial financial losses to the suffering families. “We have the latest laboratory facilities here to diagnose children with PID disease,’’ said Dr Sagar Bhattad.
As per the estimate, there are 1000 to 5000 patients with PID in Bengaluru but the total number of children who have been diagnosed as of now is only around 50 children. A number of children and families continue to suffer without being diagnosed. “Some parents have established the Primary Immune Deficiency Patient Welfare Society (PIDPWS), a non-profit organization. As of now, 12 patients with immune deficiency have been registered with the PIDPWS and the number if likely to increase as the awareness goes up,’’ Dr Sagar Bhattad said.
Aster CMI Hospital will provide an open and transparent mechanism to track the appropriate usage of the financial support provided by corporate entities. Aster CMI Hospital will provide extensive visibility in digital, audio visual and print media for supporting corporates in this endeavour.
Since the main challenge in the diagnosis of children with PIDs is the availability of a doctor, it has the first formally trained immunologist who has remained extremely supportive professionally and financially to these children. The hospital intends to support the patients with advanced diagnosis, free consultation and subsidized medications.
