Pediatric Immunology

Expert Pediatric Immunology & Immune Disorder Care

At MUSC Children’s Health, our Immunology Services offer top-tier, family-centered care for children with immune system disorders—from recurrent infections to rare genetic immunodeficiencies. As a designated Jeffrey Modell Foundation Diagnostic & Research Center, we combine advanced diagnostics, multidisciplinary expertise and personalized treatment plans to ensure children receive the precise care they need.

As a result of the on-going expertise, care provided, and clinical trials, the Jeffrey Modell Foundation awarded Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center designation to MUSC Health and appointed Dr. Kelli Williams as the center’s first director. This distinction allows Dr. Williams and her colleagues to continue to provide early and precise diagnosis of PIDDs in children and adults and their appropriate, meaningful treatment. MUSC Health is the southeast U.S. referral location for very sick and specialized patients with rare immunological diseases.

The Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center at MUSC Health joins the Jeffrey Modell Foundation network of over 400 programs at academic medical institutions in 87 countries with 42 located at major children’s hospitals across the United States. In addition to diagnosis and treatment plans, the center distinction allows for additional resource offerings, patient education, and more opportunities to collaborate with institutions around the world on multi-center research projects.

To make an appointment or a referral, call: 843-876-0444.

To fax a new referral use: 843-876-0442.

An immunologic condition is a disruption in the immune system, which can make a person sick. The disruptions may be caused by the person not having enough cells to fight an infection, or the cells they have may not work the way they are supposed to, or the cells get confused and no longer function properly. Most commonly, patients present with frequent infections, severe and/or hard to treat infections, or unusual infections.

There are three main types of immunologic conditions:

Primary Immune Deficiency – conditions that are caused by defects in a person’s genes so often present early in life
Secondary Immune Deficiency – conditions that occur when the immune system is compromised due to one or more environmental factors, such as medications, infections, and procedures
Primary Immune regulatory disorders – conditions that are caused by immune cells leading to organ damage and inflammation

Anyone can be affected by immunologic conditions. Some people are born with them and some people develop them after birth. They can occur at any age.

What should I look out for if I suspect my child may have primary immunodeficiency (PI)?

10 Warning Signs of PI in children, per the Jeffrey Modell Foundation:

Four or more new ear infections within 1 year
Two or more serious sinus infections within 1 year
Two or more months on antibiotics with little effect
Two or more pneumonias within 1 year
Failure of an infant to gain weight or grow normally
Recurrent, deep skin or organ abscesses
Persistent thrush in mouth or fungal infection on skin
Need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections
Two or more deep-seated infections including septicemia
A family history of PI

If you suspect your child may be affected by two or more of the 10 warning signs, make an appointment with your physician.

Prophylactic Antibiotics
IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin therapy)
SCIG (subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy)
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)

Recurrent infections
Hypogammaglobulinemia or low antibody levels
Lymphopenia or low white blood cell count (WBC)
Neutropenia or low absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
Early onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Recurrent fevers
CVID (Common Variable Immune Deficiency)
DiGeorge syndrome
SCID (Severe Combined Immune Deficiency)

MUSC Children’s Health providers are actively involved in many national and international clinical immunology organizations, including: Clinical Immunology Society (CIS), Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF), American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) and Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF)