First, I am writing this as a mother of a child with an IgA Def.  I have
2 loving Pediatricians looking out for us, (one who consulted an
Immunologist for us and relayed the message) and we have been to Lucille
Packard Hospital at Stanford Univ. to consult with an Immunologist about
this.  I also went to our local Medical School and researched this in
their library. If I get anything wrong, please forgive, I am not
speaking as a Medical Expert and am trying to remember things from 2
years ago.  Some of these don't make sense to me, but were in my notes
and were the recommendations from the Specialists and the nutritionist.

My son had Pertussis at 4 mo.  We did not wish to continue this
immunization since we'd had the disease and since he'd had such a bad
reaction.  But his tiders to IgA Pertussis came back 0! (Mine were 106
with 60 as a positive.) We did an IgA count, and it has always come back
<7 mg/dl.

At about a year, he was diagnosed with Failure to Thrive and rightly
so.  He was lathergic, whiny, and not gaining weight.  He was waking
12-15 times a night, every night, screaming in pain.  Also had apnea and
drenching night sweats.  Eating 1/3 of solids "normal" for his age, only
fruits and veggies.

Gastroenterologist ran blood tests for food allergies, and my son tested
positive for dairy, egg yolks, bananas, and all nuts and grains except
corn and rice. Since I was breastfeeding, we both went on a zero
tolerance diet for these foods.  (Thought it was Celiac Sprue.)  He
finally started improving.  Apnea and night sweats went away, and he
started gaining and was happy.

IgA is the part of your immune system that fights infections in your
upper respiratory tract. It also coats the inside of your intestines to
create another layer for proteins to have to pass through before they
get into your blood.  If proteins that are too big are detected by the
IgA, they basically digest them into smaller pieces.   If proteins that
are too big get in your blood, it can create a reaction, (allergy).

It's the primary antibody in breastmilk.

1)  VERY common.  1 in 600 people have, but since it has little
consequence, just a little more upper respiritory infections, etc.  most
people never know.

2) If you have to be immune deficient, this it the best one to have.  In
some people, the other parts of their immune system start to cover their
system in the parts that the IgA's should have.

3)  You can request a special IgA count, if you know it will be low.
Apparently it is important to know if it is 0 or a 6.

4)  If child ever needs a transfusion, it should be with 5 times washed
white blood.  Transfusion of IgG must be with 0 IgA.

5)  Be careful with vacinations.  No MMR and No Oral Polio. No live
vacinations.

6)  Can affect teeth enamel.

7)  Puts child at risk for Celiac Sprue  (Gluten Intolerance).

8)  Also there are reports of food allegies associated with IgA
deficiences.  Food trials are the primary indications for reactivities.

9)  40% of these people can be allergic to Beef, and 50% to Dairy.

10)  Prophylactic antibiotics at first sign of upper respiratory
infection, being careful not to over-treat with antibiotics.  (We've
never done this.)

11)!!  Dr.  recommended "He might be weaned from breast milk and placed
on Good Start formula first, and perhaps later on cow's milk."  Hunter
was 2.5 YO.

12)  Have the parents screened for this too.  Runs in families.

13)  Run IgG 2 & 4 every 3 years.

14)  Run Pneumocaccoal Antibodies and Polysacaride Antigens tests

Our good news is that when we cut out the beef and Dairy 100% (he'd
never tested positive to beef,) all the other allergies feel away.  Now
we can eat everything but the beef and dairy.  Those we still limit, but
do eat occasionally.

I weaned Hunter at 3.5 YO.

Dayna Williams
Reno, NV
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