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Published Apr 10, 2023

208. Whole Family Wellness: Helping Our Kids Thrive with Dr. Elisa Song

Integrative pediatrician Dr. Elisa Song dives into personalized medicine for children, covering topics from antibiotics and gut health to COVID-19 vaccines and pediatric autoimmunity, emphasizing natural alternatives and immune resilience.
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  • Early Detection

    Dr. highlights the importance of early detection and testing for autoimmune diseases in children. She explains that certain markers, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), can indicate potential autoimmune issues long before a full-blown disease develops 1. This proactive approach allows for early intervention and prevention strategies to be implemented, reducing the risk of severe autoimmune conditions later in life.

    We can have autoimmune reactivity and autoimmune markers for decades before we have an autoimmune disease.

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    also discusses the role of family history and the potential impact of COVID-19 on autoimmune markers, emphasizing that a positive ANA does not necessarily mean a child will develop an autoimmune disease 2.

       

    Infection Impact

    Infections and vaccines can significantly impact autoimmune markers and immune responses in children. explains that both COVID-19 infections and vaccinations can trigger autoimmune responses due to molecular mimicry, where the immune system confuses viral antigens with the body's own cells 2. This phenomenon can lead to conditions like long COVID, which shares similarities with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

    Long COVID, very similar to chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia. What do we see there? We see our mitochondria taking a hit.

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    also notes that myocarditis, a rare but serious condition, has been observed more frequently in young males following mRNA vaccinations compared to the infection itself 3.

       

    Personalized Medicine

    emphasizes the need for personalized medicine to address the varied responses to infections and vaccines. She discusses the emerging fields of vaccigenomics and adversomax, which aim to tailor vaccines and treatments based on individual genetic profiles 4. This approach could help identify which individuals might be at higher risk for adverse reactions and how to mitigate those risks effectively.

    At some point we are going to be in a place with precision medicine where we can use our omics, our genomic profile, to know there's a field called vaccigenomics.

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    also highlights the importance of lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, in reducing the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, advocating for a holistic approach to health 2.

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