BJ. is a 5-year-old boy who has suffered from repeatedupper respiratory infections since he was 16 months old. At 4 yearsof age, he was diagnosed with allergic asthma. The followingwinter, at age 5, he was admitted to the hospital twice for acuteasthma with a secondary bacterial pulmonary infection.
At the second admission, a complete blood count, sputumculture, and immune status work-up were ordered.
Laboratory Data
Assay                                      PatientResults          ReferenceRange
Hemoglobin                              13.5g/dL             11.5-14.5 g/dL
Hematocrit                                 40% 33-43%
Total WBC count 16.2 x109/LÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4-12 x 109/L
Lymphocyte Count 4.3 x109/LÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2.7-5.4
Tlymphocytes                           2.4 x 109/L           2.7-5.3
Blymphocytes                            1.0 x 109/L          0.6-1.4
1. What is the etiology of this patient’s recurringinfections? Explain your answer.
