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: Pneumococcal Vaccine in Children
DEAR DR.PAUL: What is this new vaccine
against pneumococcus? Do children really need this and is it safe?
DR.PAUL ANSWERS: Very good question!
This vaccine represents a tremendous step forward in helping prevent
serious and common infections in children. Otherwise known as
Streptococcus pneumoniae, the pneumococcus bacteria is
the most common cause of bacterial invasive infection in children
younger than 2 years of age. Pneumococcus causes serious infections
including meningitis, pneumonia, blood stream infections and sinus
infections in children. Also, Pneumococcus is the leading bacterial
cause of ear infections or Otitis Media, one of the most common
infections in young children.
Although this bacteria can infect anyone, it tends to infect children
less than 2 years of age more frequently. As well, children with
weakened immune systems such as with HIV infection, asplenia(have
no spleen) and sickle cell are particularly sensitive to pneumococcal
infections. When these children get this infection their body
cannot fight it off well and as a result they can get very sick.
What is the treatment for pneumococcal infection? Antibiotics
are needed to treat pneumococcal infections. Depending on the
infection, they may need to be given in a hospital setting through
an intravenous(for meningitis and pneumonia for example). The
problem with the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria is
that it is becoming increasingly resistant to the current antibiotics
we have. Consequently, antibiotics fail to treat this infection
resulting in the bacteria becoming more difficult to control and
treat. Medical experts fear that one day Pneumococcus will develop
resistance to all antibiotics making it a real super-bug: in other
words a bacterium very difficult to treat and control. Therefore,
prevention of this infection is best, especially when the possible
infections are dangerous including meningitis. Pneumococcal meningitis
is considered one of the most dangerous forms of bacterial meningitis.
I have seen this first hand in treating such children.
Up until very recently, there was no effective vaccine against
pneumococcal infection for young children. However, there now
exists a new Pneumococcus vaccine that has been shown effective
in young children, as well as in older children with weakened
immune systems. Tested in over 40,000 children the pneumococcal
vaccine has been proven both safe and effective. The pneumococcal
vaccine is recommended to be given along with all the other routine
vaccinations: at 2, 4, 6, 12, 15 months. The number of doses required
depends on the age at which the vaccinations begin: Newborn babies
should ideally receive there first vaccine at 2 months, for a
total of 3 doses, six to eight weeks apart. A booster is given
at one year.
In conclusion, the pneumococcal vaccine(known as Prevnar) is considered
very safe and I view it as a major step in being able to prevent
common a well as serious childhood bacterial(pneumococcal) infections.
As these infections, because of antibiotic resistance, are becoming
more and more difficult to treat, prevention by vaccination is
the best solution. |
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designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to
replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is
it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If
you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always
consult a physician.
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