Friday, November 27, 2009

HLH Syndrom and Eduardo Salazar, A Child from Villa Union Durango, Hope Through Prayer,


Edaurdo Salazar Rivera is an 11 year old with Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis or HLH syndrom, a frequently terminal, mostly child hood disease. While it is not a common childhood illness, when it strikes it is frequently fatal.

One of the first medical questions is whether the syndrome is passed through family lines. This is not a heredity trait one wants to have. Those who acquire this childhood disease trough heredity have substantially reduced survival chances.

Children with HLH Syndrom acquired through infection have a higher chance of recuperation. It is termed as a secondary infection because the HLH syndrom is secondary or brought on after infection, frequently through the Epstein Barr virus. The Epstein Barr Virus is a form of herpes, HHV-4. Nearly 95% of all people in the US have herpes HHV-4. Herpes acquired in adolesence is usually passed as mononucleosis.

While most of us have the Epstein Barr Virus, HLH Syndrome is not an illness you can catch. It appears there must be a genetic predisposition. Once the underlying infection is resolved the HLH may go into remission.

A great source for information for Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis can be found a: http://www.histio.org/site/c.kiKTL4PQLvF/b.1851483/k.7487/Hemophagocytic_Syndromes.htm

Eduardo Salazar appears to have secondary HLH. My friend Erin Kennedy of Castle Rock, Colorado, along with the Salazar family, have been trying to get Eduardo to one of the few medical specialists associated with HLH Syndrome. This is why we reached out to the powerful Latino media outlet Univision, and some of their popular hosts, El Gordo y La Flaca and Piolin Por Manana. Eduardo Sotelo has a heart of gold and we thought our Eduardo's struggle might hit home for Sotelo.

Every child deserves the right to live. Children from Villa Union, Durango, Mexico are no exception.

Tim Paynter is an attorney and civil rights advocate fighting for equal treatment for all, justice through government and children's rights.

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