Parkway Primary Care Monthly Health Tip

February 2006

Pertussis and Meningitis

Over the past century, immunizations have improved the health of the world more than any other medical breakthrough. Each year we improve our vaccinations and therefore the recommendations continue to change. Many patients are unaware of the booster vaccinations needed throughout their lifetime, which causes an increase spread in non-eradicated diseases.

 

The most recent recommendation has been for Pertussis(“Whooping Cough”) which has been on the rise in the US in the past 4-5 years. Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the respiratory system which is spread through airborne droplets. Pertussis can be deadly to young children and causes a chronic cough in adults/adolescents who become carriers as their immunity wears off from their childhood immunizations. Due to this it is now recommended to have a booster with a new vaccination that contains Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) for:

• All preadolescent children(11-12 years of age)
• Adolescents up to 18 years of age.
• Adolescents/preadolescents whom have already gotten a Tetanus booster

 

In the future there will most likely be a need to vaccinate adults w/ a boost as well

, although safety studies have not been completed at this time.

 

Another change for 2006 is the addition of Meningococcal (MCV4) vaccine to:

• All preadolescent children (11-12 years of age).
• At entrance to high school if have not previously gotten the vaccination.
• College freshmen who live in dormitories should be vaccinated.
• Military recruits
• People without spleens

 

Meningococcus is the leading cause of bacterial Meningitis (infection of fluid surrounding brain and spinal cord) in children 2-18 years of age. About 1 in every 10 persons that gets the disease dies, so prevention is a must in high risk patients.

 

Please see the table of other routine vaccinations recommended for children and adults by the CDC or for more information on these mentioned above.

Disclaimer: The information included on this page and within the health tip archive is compiled from various sources chosen by the physicians at Parkway Primary Care. Any and all advice should be considered to be general in nature. Please contact your doctor if you have special health conditions.