Why immunize? Pneumococcal infection causes severe disease andeven death, it kills more people in the United State each year than all other infections combined. Each susceptible to pneumococcal infection, but some people are more at risk from the disease. High risk includes: senior -
65 years and older, very young, as well as health problems, including alcoholism, heart disease and lung, kidney failure, diabetes, HIV, and some types of cancer. . Pneumococcal infection can cause serious lung infection (pneumonia), blood (bacteremia) and covering the brain (meningitis). Some statistics:
Oneout everytwenty of people die from pneumococcal pneumonia. Twoout with everyten, who get bacteremia. Threeout out of every ten who get meningitis. People with health problems (as mentioned above), at even higher risk of death from this disease. Drugs (eg, penicillin) once so effective in treating these infections are currently in disadvantageas the disease is becoming increasingly drug-resistant. Immunization is currently playing a key role in preventing the disease. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. Most healthy adults who receive immunization to develop protection to most or all of these types within two threeweeks a frame. High risk includes: elderly, children under 2 years old, and
thosewith certainlong chronic disease may not respond as well, and all. Who should get PPV immunization? Adults - age 65 and older. Any - over 2 years old - who have long-term health problems such as: Any - over 2 years old - with the disease / condition that reduces resistance to infections overalls, such as:
lymphoma, leukemia
damaged spleen or no spleen
Any - more than 2 years, taking any medication or treatment that reduces resistance to infections thebodys such as:
Alaska and certain American Indian populations. How many doses of PPV are needed? One dose of PPV is all that is usually required, however, in some cases, the second dose can be given. For example: >> << Is cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma
Otherwise healthy children who often get ear infections, sinus and other upper respiratory tract diseases, no need to PPV, because these conditions. PPV may be less effective in some, especially with low resistance to infection, but these people still have to get immunized because they are more likely to suffer from serious diseases frompneumococcal disease. Pregnancy: Safety PPV for pregnant women and even bestudied whilethere no evidence that the vaccine is harmful to the mother or fetus, pregnant women should consult their doctor before vaccination. If possible, women at high risk should be vaccinated ofpneumococcal to pregnancy. What are the risks from PPV? While PPV is very safe vaccine, these are:
About half of those who received the vaccine are mild side effects such as redness or pain where the vaccine. LessThan 1% develop fever, muscle aches, and more severe local reactions. Severe allergic strattera dosage reaction (although they are rarely reported). Like any medicine, is a small risk that serious problems, even death can occur after receiving the vaccine. However, infected with the disease is much more likely to cause severehealth problems, complications or death. In fact, the disease presents a great danger for healththat vaccine. What if there is a serious reaction? What should I look for? Severe allergic reactions (rash, difficulty breathing, shock)
What to do? Call a doctor or get medical attention. Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccine was given. .