Rotavirus......another serious disease

                                                                    Rotavirus

Rotavirus is a virus that causes gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines). The rotavirus disease causes severe watery diarrhea, often with vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. In babies and young children, it can lead to dehydration (loss of body fluids). Globally, it causes more than a half a million deaths each year in children younger than five years of age.Vaccinated and unvaccinated children may develop rotavirus disease more than once because there are many different types of rotavirus and because neither vaccine nor natural infection provides full immunity (protection) from future infections. Usually a person’s first infection with rotavirus causes the most severe symptoms.

Who gets Rotavirus?

Rotavirus disease is most common in infants and young children, but adults and older children can also become infected with rotavirus. Each year in the United States in the pre-vaccine period, rotavirus was responsible for more than 400,000 doctor visits; more than 200,000 emergency room visits; 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations; and 20 to 60 deaths in children younger than five years of age. 

Symptoms:

Once a person has been exposed to rotavirus, it takes about two days for symptoms to appear.Symptoms include:
Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
Feeling run down, achy (malaise)
Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots)
Additional symptoms include loss of appetite and dehydration (loss of body fluids), which can be especially harmful for infants and young children. 

Vaccination:

Two different rotavirus vaccines are currently licensed for use in infants in the United States. The vaccines are
1. RotaTeq® (RV5) and
2. Rotarix® (RV1).

Before being licensed, both vaccines were tested in clinical trials and shown to be safe and effective. Both vaccines are oral (taken by mouth and swallowed), not a shot.There are two brands of rotavirus vaccine. A baby should get either two or three doses, depending on which brand is used.The doses are recommended at these ages:
First Dose: 2 months of age
Second Dose: 4 months of age
Third Dose: 6 months of age (if needed)

The first dose may be given as early as six weeks of age, and should be given by age 14 weeks 6 days. The last dose should be given by eight months of age.Rotavirus vaccine may be given at the same time as other childhood vaccines. Babies who get the vaccine may be fed normally afterward.

Two Drops of Life........

                                                                       Polio

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system. Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus that lives in the throat and intestinal tract. It is most often spread through person-to-person contact with the stool of an infected person and may also be spread through oral/nasal secretions (such as saliva).Less than one percent of polio cases result in permanent paralysis of the limbs (usually the legs). Of those paralyzed, five to ten percent die when the paralysis strikes the respiratory muscles. Paralysis can lead to permanent disability and death.

Who gets Polio?

Polio, or poliomyelitis, can strike at any age. Thanks to effective vaccine, the United States has been polio-free since 1979. But poliovirus still occurs in a few countries in Asia and Africa. In the late 1940s to the early 1950s, polio crippled an average of over 35,000 people in the United States each year; it was one of the most feared diseases of the twentieth century. Thanks to the polio vaccine, dedicated health care professionals, and parents who vaccinate their children on schedule, polio has been eliminated in this country for over 30 years. People most at risk are those who never had polio vaccine, those who never received all the recommended vaccine doses, and those traveling to areas where polio is still common. 

Symptoms:

Up to 95 percent of persons infected with polio will have no symptoms. About four to eight percent of infected persons have minor symptoms such as:
Fever
Fatigue
Nausea
Headache
Flu-like symptoms
Stiffness in the neck and back
Pain in the limbs, which often resolves completely 

Vaccination :

There are two types of vaccine that protect against polio:
1. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) and
2. Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).

FOR CHILDREN

Most people should get polio vaccine when they are children.Children should be vaccinated with four doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) at the following ages:
A dose at 2 months
A dose at 4 months
A dose at 6-18 months
A booster dose at 4-6 years

FOR ADULTS

Most adults do not need polio vaccine because they were already vaccinated as children. But three groups of adults are at higher risk and should consider polio vaccination in the following situations:
You are traveling to polio-endemic or high-risk areas of the world.
You are working in a laboratory and handling specimens that might contain polioviruses.
You are a healthcare worker treating patients who could have polio or have close contact with a person who could be infected with polio virus.
Adults in these three groups who have never been vaccinated against polio should get three doses of IPV:
The first dose at any time, The second dose 1 to 2 months later, The third dose 6 to 12 months after the second.

Pneumococcal and Vaccination

                                                        Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. There are different types of pneumococcal disease, such as pneumococcal pneumonia, blood infections, brain infections and middle ear infections. Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable illness and death in the United States.Pneumococcus bacteria is in many people's noses and throats and is spread by coughing, sneezing, or contact with respiratory secretions.

Symptoms:

Fever, Cough, Shortness of breath, Chest pain, Stiff neck, FeverMental confusion and disorientation, Visual sensitivity to light. In some cases, it can result in long-term problems, like brain damage, deafness, and limb loss. 

Who gets Pneumococcal disease?

Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, but some people are at greater risk than others:People 65 years and older, Very young children, People with certain health problems, People with a weakened immune system, Smokers, Adults with asthma.

Vaccination:

There are currently two types of pneumococcal vaccines:
1. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) 2. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). 

1. PCV13:

FOR INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN

PCV13 is recommended as a series of four doses, one dose at each of these ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and12 through 15 months
Children who miss their shots at these ages should still get the vaccine. The number of doses and the intervals between doses will depend on the child’s age.

FOR ADULTS

One dose of PCV13 is recommended for adults 19 years and older with the following medical conditions that put them at high risk for pneumococcal disease:

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
leaks Cochlear implant
Sickle cell disease and other hemaglobinopathies
Functional or anatomic
asplenia Congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies
HIV infection
Chronic renal failure
Nephrotic syndrome
LeukemiaHodgkin's disease
Generalized malignancy
Long-term immunosuppressive therapy
Solid organ transplant
Multiple myeloma

Adults with one of the above listed conditions who have not received any pneumococcal vaccine, should get a dose of PCV13 first and should also continue to receive the recommended doses of PPSV23.

2. PPSV23:

FOR CHILDREN, PRE-TEENS, TEENS, AND ADULTS

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria, including those most likely to cause serious disease.Most healthy adults who get the vaccine develop protection to most or all of these types within two to three weeks of getting the shot. Very old people and people with some long-term illnesses might not respond as well, or at all.  

One dose of PPSV23 is recommended for:

All adults 65 years of age and older

Anyone two through 64 years of age who has a long- term health problem such as: heart disease, lung disease, sickle cell disease diabetes alcoholism cirrhosis leaks of cerebrospinal fluid or cochlear implant

Anyone two through 64 years of age who has a disease or condition that lowers the body’s resistance to infection, such as: Hodgkin’s disease, lymphoma or leukemia, kidney failure, multiple myeloma, nephrotic syndrome, HIV infection or AIDS, damaged spleen, or no spleen, organ transplant

Anyone two through 64 years of age who is taking a drug or treatment that lowers the body’s resistance of infection, such as: long-term steroids, certain cancer drugs, radiation therapy

Any adult 19 through 64 years of age who is a smoker or has asthma
People two through 64 years of age with certain chronic health conditions may be recommended to receive a second dose, five years after their first dose. 

Even Your Respiration Can Spread Dangerous Virus

                                                             Meningococcal

Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, also called meningococcus. Some people carry these bacteria in the back of their nose with no signs or symptoms of disease. But sometimes these bacteria can invade the body causing certain illnesses, which collectively are known as meningococcal disease.Neisseria meningitidis are spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (i.e., coughing, kissing). The bacteria are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningococcal disease has been.The two most severe and common illnesses caused by Neisseria meningitidis includemeningitis and septicemia.

The symptoms of meningococcal meningitis can appear quickly or over several days. Typically they develop within three to seven days after exposure.In newborns and infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent or difficult to detect. Infants with meningitis may appear slow or inactive, have vomiting, be irritable, or be feeding poorly. As the disease progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.Meningococcal meningitis can be fatal and should always be viewed as a medical emergency. About ten percent of infected people die from the disease. In non-fatal cases, those affected experience long-term disabilities, such as brain damage or deafness. Preventing the disease through the use of meningococcal vaccine is important.

Who gets Meningococcal Disease?

Anyone can get meningococcal disease. But it is most common in infants younger than one year of age and people with certain medical conditions, such as lack of a spleen. College freshmen who live in dormitories, and teenagers and young adults 16 through 21 years old are at increased risk of getting meningococcal disease.

Vaccination

FOR CHILDREN

Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is recommended for children 9 months through ten years of age who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease.  Children may be at increased risk due to certain medical conditions or because they are traveling to a country with high rates of meningococcal disease. Booster doses may be recommended if your child remains at increased risk.

FOR PRETEENS/TEENS

Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is routinely recommended for all 11 through 18 year olds. The first dose should be given at 11-12 years of age and a booster dose at 16 years of age.

Do You Know About Measles?

                            Do You Know About Measles?

Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. The disease of measles and the virus that causes it share the same name. The disease is also called rubeola.

Measles virus lives in the mucus in the nose and throat of the infected person. When that person sneezes or coughs, droplets spray into the air. The droplets can get into other people’s noses or throats when they breathe or put their fingers in their mouth or nose after touching an infected surface. The virus can live on infected surfaces for up to two hours.

Measles causes fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body. About one out of ten children with measles also gets an ear infection, and up to one out of 20 gets pneumonia. About one out of 1,000 gets encephalitis, and one or two out of 1,000 die. Measles can also make a pregnant woman have a miscarriage, give birth prematurely, or have a low-birth-weight baby. Other rash-causing diseases often confused with measles include roseola and rubella (German measles).

Symptoms --- The symptoms of measles generally begin about 7-14 days after a person is infected, and include: Blotchy rash, Fever, Cough,  Runny nose, Red  watery eyes (conjunctivitis), Feeling run down, achy (malaise),  Tiny white spots with bluish-white centres found inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots).

Measles remains a common disease in many countries throughout the world, including some developed countries in Europe and Asia. While the disease is almost gone from the United States, measles still kills nearly 200,000 people each year globally.

Who gets Measles?----Anyone can get measles. It is so contagious that anyone who is exposed to it and is not immune will probably get the disease. Complications from measles are still dangerous and occur more commonly in children younger than five years of age and adults 20 years of age or older.

Measles is the most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses. The disease spreads very easily, so it is important to protect against infection. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles.

Vaccination----

For infants and children: Measles vaccine is usually administered as MMR, a combination vaccine that provides protection against three viral diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella. Two doses are recommended for children:  The first dose at 12–15 months of age The second dose before entering school, at 4–6 years of age.

For adults: Anyone born during or after 1957 who has not had measles or been vaccinated is at risk and should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Two doses are recommended for adults who are at higher risk, such as:

College students, trade school students, or other students beyond high school, Those who work in a hospital or other medical facility, International travelers or those who are passengers on a cruise ship, Women of childbearing age, However, pregnant women should wait to get MMR vaccine until after they have given birth. Women should not become pregnant for 28 days following the receipt of the MMR vaccine or any of its components. (The combination MMRV vaccine is not licensed for those over 12 years old).

Mumps can get serious...if ignored.

What is Mumps?

Mumps is a contagious disease that is caused by the mumps virus. The mumps virus affects the saliva glands, located between the ear and jaw, and may cause puffy cheeks and swollen glands.Like the common cold or flu, the mumps virus spreads in the air from an infected person’s cough or sneeze. A child also can get infected with mumps by coming in contact with an object, like a toy, that has mumps virus on it. An infected person is most likely to spread mumps one to two days before symptoms of swollen glands appear. Infected people can spread mumps for up to five days after symptoms appear. Symptoms usually appear about 16 to 18 days after being exposed to someone who was contagious. The most common symptoms include: Fever Headache Muscle aches Tiredness Loss of appetite Swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears or jaw on one or both sides of the face.

Who gets Mumps?

Anyone who is not immune from either previous mumps infection or from vaccination can get mumps. Before the routine vaccination program was introduced in the United States, mumps was a common illness in infants, children and young adults. Because most people have now been vaccinated, mumps has become a rare disease in the United States.Mumps virus usually causes fever, general discomfort, and (in most, but not all cases) the characteristic swollen jaw. However, complications can occur and might be more severe in teenagers and adults. Mumps can cause headache and stiff neck (called meningitis), inflammation of the testicles (called orchitis), deafness, and, in rare cases, inflammation of the brain (called encephalitis), which can lead to permanent disabilities or even death.
Mumps is an infectious disease caused by a virus that can lead to serious complications, especially for adults and pregnant women. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent mumps.

VACCINATION:

The mumps vaccine was licensed in 1967 and is usually administered as part of the MMR vaccine. MMR is a combination vaccine that provides protection from three viral diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella.

For children: The first dose at 12–15 months of age The second dose before entering school, at 4–6 years of ageYour child’s health care provider may also offer the MMRV vaccine, a combination vaccine that provides protection against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox). MMRV vaccine is licensed for children 12 months to 12 years of age.

FOR ADULTS

Anyone born during or after 1957 who has not had mumps or been vaccinated is at risk and should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Two doses are recommended for adults who are at higher risk, such as College students, trade school students, or other students beyond high school Those who work in a hospital or other medical facility International travelers or those who are passengers on a cruise ship Women of childbearing age However, pregnant women should wait to get MMR vaccine until after they have given birth.

Hepatitis B

                                                                   Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus or HBV. Like hepatitis A, it may start as an acute disease, causing a mild illness that lasts for a few weeks. But in some people, especially infants, the hepatitis B virus lingers, causing a lifelong chronic illness that causes long-term liver problems. Even people who have had the disease for 20 or 30 years without symptoms are at risk for serious liver problems, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other bodily fluid of someone who has it enters the body of someone who doesn't. An infected mother can pass the disease on to her child at birth. You can also get the disease by:
Having unprotected sex with an infected partner, Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug paraphernalia, Using something that may contain an infected person's blood, such as a razor or toothbrush, Coming in direct contact with the blood of someone who has the disease, Being exposed to blood from needle sticks or other sharp instruments.
Hepatitis B is not spread through food or water, and you can't get it from sharing eating utensils, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. And if you are an infected mother, you can't pass it on to your child through breastfeeding.

Symptoms:

Children younger than age 6 who have hepatitis B often have no symptoms. In older children and adults, symptoms of acute hepatitis B include:

Fever, Fatigue, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain, Dark urine, Clay-coloured bowel movements, Joint pain, Jaundice
Close to 90% of infants who become infected with HBV will develop chronic hepatitis B and carry the disease with them for life.

Vaccine:

Hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots over a 6-month period.
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:

All infants, starting with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth, All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated, People whose sex partners have hepatitis B, Sexually active persons who are not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship, Persons seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease, Men who have sexual contact with other men, People who share needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment, People who have close household contact with someone infected with the hepatitis B virus, Health care and public safety workers at risk for exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids on the job, People with end-stage renal disease, including predialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home dialysis patients, Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled persons, Travellers to regions with moderate or high rates of hepatitis B, People with chronic liver disease, People with HIV infection, Anyone who wishes to be protected from hepatitis B virus infection.

For children and adolescents: All children should get their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and complete the vaccine series by 6–18 months of age. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all babies so that they will be protected from a serious but preventable disease. Babies and young children are at much greater risk for developing a chronic infection if infected, but the vaccine can prevent this. All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not yet gotten the vaccine should also be vaccinated.