The Illinois Department
of Public Health Adds a Test to Newborn Screening
All newborns in Illinois
will now be tested for severe combined immunodeficiency
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[June 23, 2014]
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois
Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. LaMar
Hasbrouck today announced that IDPH is now testing all
babies born in Illinois hospitals for severe combined
immunodeficiency (SCID) and other immunodeficiencies.
SCID is an inherited disorder, which causes improper
development of white blood cells that are the primary
defense against viruses, bacteria and fungal infections.
People with SCID are very susceptible to recurrent
infections and may develop pneumonia, meningitis or
other complications.
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“Babies born with SCID appear healthy, but cannot fight infection.
Without medical treatment, babies diagnosed with SCID may die before
reaching a year old,” said Dr. Hasbrouck. “However, if a newborn is
diagnosed with SCID, they can be treated with a stem cell/bone
marrow transplant. By catching this genetic disorder early, we hope
to be able to save lives and prevent suffering and future medical
complications for babies diagnosed with SCID.”
Illinois becomes the 18th state to test for SCID. With the addition
of SCID, Illinois now tests newborns for 40 disorders. Later this
year, IDPH will begin testing for six lysosomal storage disorders –
Fabry, Gaucher, Krabbe, MPS 1 (Hurler Syndrome), Niemann-Pick and
Pompe.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2014/Jun/18/images/ads/current/business_directory_filler.png)
Each year, IDPH labs test about 160,000 newborns with approximately
18,000 abnormal test results, of which 350 are diagnosed with a
disorder.
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Visit
www.idph.state.il.us/HealthWellness/genetics.htm for
more information.
[Text received; ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH]
IDPH continues to implement
its
Five Year Strategy 2014-2018 to maximize IDPH’s effectiveness,
influence and value for promoting wellness, health equity, safety
and improved health outcomes. Strategic plan priorities include
developing and expanding partnerships; improving data utilization;
reducing health disparities; improving regulatory compliance; and
branding, marketing and communicating IDPH’s value. |