Question:
Male, 47 years old, Deletion
My son was diagnosed with S.I.R.S after a fall sent him to the hospital with chest pain. His white blood count was very elevated. I know P/W kids get lots of weird diagnosis but how common is this one? Systemic inflammatory response syndrome is a mouthful.
Nurse Lynn’s Response:
I have not heard that SIRS is a common diagnosis in PWS. However, individuals with PWS may have a higher risk. Here are some things that you may want to consider:
Some psychiatric medications can cause an increase in white blood cell count (WBC).
Certain antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and other psychiatric drugs may be linked to this
effect.
Some individuals with PWS may have an increased susceptibility to respiratory infections which can trigger an immune response and lead to elevated WBC counts.
Sometimes individuals with PWS are obese, and obesity itself can lead to chronic low-grade inflammation which may elevate WBC counts. Adipose tissue can release certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can contribute to systemic inflammation and immune system activation. Certain issues like Sepsis, pancreatitis or cholecystitis can also trigger SIRS.
Sleep Apnea can cause low oxygen levels which has been linked to increased inflammatory markers and higher WBC’s.
As you can see, there can be many reasons for this elevated WBC. It is important to evaluate the possible causes to ensure that timely and appropriate intervention can occur.
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Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.