• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Screening for SCID added to Iowa newborn program

Screening for SCID added to Iowa newborn program

October 11, 2012 By Matt Kelley

The state’s newborn screening program is being expanded to include testing for a rare, but deadly disorder. Kim Piper, with the Iowa Department of Public Health, says – until recently – screening newborns for severe combined immune deficiency  had not been possible.

“(SCID) is a set of conditions that the newborn inherits from the parents that affects the immune system, so the baby doesn’t have the blood cells to fight off infections,” Piper said. SCID, sometimes referred to as the “bubble boy” disease, is extraordinary.

The incidence of SCID is estimated to be one in 50,000 to 60,000 live births. If untreated, most infants with SCID die before reaching their first birthday. “So, screening is very important,” Piper said. “If we can detect these babies before they have a life-threatening infection, then we can get them into treatment…which is usually a bone marrow transplant.”

Iowa’s newborn screening program allows for the testing of more than 50 disorders from just one droplet of blood. SCID is referred to as the “bubble boy” disease because its victims, such as David Vetter, are sometimes forced to live in a sterile environment.

Vetter’s story inspired the 1976 made for TV movie “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble,” starring John Travolta.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, News

Featured Stories

Governor signs Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard into law

Jury returns guilty verdict in shooting death of State Trooper

A haboob, a dust storm black out, hits northwest Iowa

Summit has easements for 20% of carbon pipeline route through Iowa

Morel mushroom hunters on hold without warmer conditions

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa Special Olympics Summer games set to open in Ames

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 5/16/22

Iowa assistant coach Kirk Speraw to retire

Northern Iowa prepares for Missouri Valley Conference softball tournament

T.J. Otzelberger announces staff changes at Iowa State

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC