HLH Quick Facts

HLH is a rare disease that causes the bodies immune system to not function properly. In a "healthy" body the white blood cells will attack the disease. In the cases of HLH the white blood cells will attack other blood cells. In essence the body aids the disease because the immune system attacks itself.

HLH is most common in infants and children by can also happen to Adults. Robby was 16. HLH is very rare. Roughly  in every 50,000 children are born with HLH. Robby was one in a million in a million ways, but this was not one that we ever dreamed of. The cause for HLH is unknown and not all treatments are successful. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy treatment, steroids, immunosuppressants, and antibiotics are all treatments used after HLH is diagnosed. Robby was never healthy enough to get any. The disease worked to fast on him.

• Symptoms of HLH
• fever 
• jaundice
• enlargement of the spleen and liver
• nausea and vomiting
• seizures
• weakness
• confusion

Robby experienced all of these symptoms over the week that he was ill. Initially he was diagnosed with mono. HLH is difficult to diagnose and in Robby's case it was not confirmed until his autopsy.