Treatment
There is no specific treatment for Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Bone marrow transplants appear to have been successful in several patients, especially when performed early in the disease.
Antibiotics are used to treat infections. Antiviral drugs such as acyclovir and chemotherapy drugs are often used in the accelerated phase of the disease. Surgery may be needed to drain abscesses in some cases.
Support Groups
Chediak-Higashi Syndrome Association — www.chediak-higashi.org
Prognosis (Expectations)
Death often occurs in the first 10 years of life, from chronic infections or accelerated disease that results in lymphoma-like illness. However, some affected children have survived longer.
Complications
- Frequent infections especially with Epstein-Barr virus
- Lymphoma-like cancer
- Early death
Calling Your Health Care Provider
Call your health care provider if you have a family history of this disorder and you are planning to have children.
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if your child shows symptoms of Chediak-Higashi syndrome.
Review Date : 8/26/2009
Reviewed By : Chad Haldeman-Englert, MD, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section on Medical Genetics, Winston-Salem, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
