title: Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases in Aguascalientes, Mexico: Results from an Educational Program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized mainly by recurrent infections. Late diagnosis remains as one of the main issues to solve. We aimed to increase PID diagnosis in Aguascalientes, a 1.3 million inhabitants state in the center of Mexico, and to describe the clinical features of such patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed an educational program for health personnel and general public; patients with possible PID were referred to a State University clinical center from December 2011 to December 2012. The patients were evaluated at the clinic and their definitive diagnosis pursued through laboratory, molecular and genetic assays. We describe the findings of those patients and analyze the impact of the program in terms of number of referrals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 41 talks and 12 media appearances 151 patients were referred for evaluation. Fifteen (9.9%) were diagnosed with PID: five (33%) had antibody deficiencies, seven (47%) Well-defined syndromes, two (13%) Severe combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and one case (7%) of an innate immune deficiency. All of the 15 PID patients had been referred by physicians, as opposed to the public. We estimated a "number needed to teach" of 75 physicians to get one PID patient referral.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educational programs are a fundamental part of the global efforts to increase PID diagnosis and care. To be successful, such programs should include public relations, reach for first-contact physicians, and aim to develop an efficient referral network with molecular diagnostic capability. Enhancing medical knowledge on PID is a successful strategy to improve early diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autonoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Aristoteles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Cardona
authors.affiliation: Immunodeficiencies Research Unit, a Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Center at the National Institute of Pediatrics, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sara Elva
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Padilla
authors.affiliation: Immunodeficiencies Research Unit, a Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Center at the National Institute of Pediatrics, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Saul Oswaldo Lugo
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autonoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ventura-Juarez
authors.affiliation: Centennial Hospital Miguel Hidalgo, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jaime Asael
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lopez-Valdez
authors.affiliation: Centennial Hospital Miguel Hidalgo, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lucila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez-Medina
authors.affiliation: Centennial Hospital Miguel Hidalgo, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santillan-Artolozaga
authors.affiliation: Centennial Hospital Miguel Hidalgo, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cajero-Avelar
authors.affiliation: Centennial Hospital Miguel Hidalgo, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alma R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: De Luna-Sosa
authors.affiliation: Centennial Hospital Miguel Hidalgo, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Torres-Bernal
authors.affiliation: Immunodeficiencies Research Unit, a Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Center at the National Institute of Pediatrics, Mexico City, Mexico. espinosa_francisco@yahoo.com.mx.|Clinical Immunology and Allergy Unit, National Institute of Pediatrics, Insurgentes sur 3700-C colonia insurgentes cuicuilco, Delegación Coyoacán, México, D.F. 04530. espinosa_francisco@yahoo.com.mx.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Rosales
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries
keywords: Primary immunodeficiency diseases; awareness; educational program