Diagnosis and treatment

Immunology staff are experts in their field and are also specially trained to treat children with a variety of different immunological disorders.

Southampton's unit is one of only a few in the country where staff have this combination of training.

The team predominantly provides an outpatient service running a number of clinics and day wards.

Your child will be invited to attend one of these, where their condition will be investigated and treated.

The clinics cover:

• serious recurrent or unusual infections (immunodeficiency)
• conditions where the immune system attacks parts of the body (auto immune disease)
• children who have been in contact with or infected with tuberculosis (TB)
• diagnosis of immunodeficiency
• antibody replacement therapy
• children infected with by HIV – the clinic team is used to dealing with families affected by HIV and is used to confidential issues regarding younger members of the family
• babies born to HIV positive mothers (to prevent infection of the baby) – the clinic team is used to dealing with families affected by HIV and is used to confidential issues regarding younger members of the family

A weekly clinic is held at Southampton General Hospital, in Tremona Road, and is led by a consultant children's immunologist.

Here your child will be assessed by members of a specialist team and will almost certainly be seen by the consultant children's immunologist. It is fairly usual for there to be more than one doctor present at appointments.

Immune deficiencies are rare but if it is suspected your child may have one, it will be unusual for their condition to be diagnosed on the first visit.

In many cases, children's immune systems are found to be functioning normally. The doctor may ask for blood tests to confirm the diagnosis.

The blood tests can be highly specialised and may require a separate visit on another day.

There are a wide range of treatments available for immunodeficiencies and once your child's condition has been identified, the best treatment to manage it will be explained to you.

Specialist nurses will be on hand to take you through your child's treatment programme step-by-step and answer any queries you may have.