Immunity Against Pertussis Disappearing After Vaccine Dosage Completed?

   

      It's difficult to diagnose.  It's potentially lethal, and it's spreading.  An infectious disease that, until the introduction of the vaccine, was once the leading cause of childhood illness and death during the first half of the 20th century, is back---despite the high rates of children receiving the vaccine to prevent against the disease.
       Pertussis (more commonly referred to as Whooping Cough) is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis (or B. pertussis).  When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny germ-laden droplets are sprayed into the air and breathed into the lungs by anyone who happens to be nearby.  Once inside a person's airways, the bacteria multiply and produce toxins that interfere with the respiratory tract.  The bacteria causes inflammation that narrows the breathing tubes in the lungs, causing uncontrollable coughing.
      When a person becomes infected with pertussis, it takes an estimated three to 12 days for signs and symptoms of the disease to occur.  The symptoms are usually mild at first, and may resemble the symptoms of the common cold.  They can include:

*Runny nose
*Nasal congestion
*Red, watery eyes
*Mild fever
*Dry cough

     After a week or two, the signs and symptoms will become worse.  However, if pertussis is diagnosed early, it can be treated with antibiotics. 
     Before a vaccine was available, pertussis claimed the lives of between 5,000 and 10,000 people in the United States each year.  The first vaccine was developed in the 1930s and became widely used in the 1940s.  According to the March of Dimes, a new vaccine called Tdap was introduced in the early 1990s.  But, despite widespread vaccination, there seems to be an unfortunate incidence where immunity is waning.  A study published in the April 2013 edition of the medical journal Pediatrics  set out to determine how long immunity to pertussis lasts after children receive their fifth dosage of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTap) vaccine between the ages of four to six years-old.  Joint researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the public health offices in Oregon and Minnesota tracked the immunization records of children in both states and compared them with pertussis data.  Their results were startling, as researchers unveiled an increase in the incidence of pertussis in children in the six years after receiving their fifth dose of DTaP, and the incidence of the disease in children aged 7 to 10 years old in Minnesota increased more than sixfold from 2007 to 2010. 
     This study reveals that when matched with similar recent studies, immunity  begins to disappear after vaccination, which according to the researchers, "helps to explain the growing incidence of pertussis in 7 to 10 year-olds who previously had a low risk of disease, presumably due to vaccination with whole-cell vaccines rather than the acellular pertussis vaccine now in use."
     The authors maintain that while new vaccines will be introduced in the future, it's, "important to maintain high immunization rates with existing vaccines to protect vulnerable populations as more disease is circulating in the community."
    

Too Much of a Good Thing Too Soon--- Alarming New Trend in Introducing Solid Food Before Baby May Be Ready

 

 

 

     As your little one grows, introducing a new, wide variety of healthy foods at the proper time is so important for your baby's growth and development.  Starting good eating habits at this early stage will help to set healthy eating habits in your baby for life.  Normally, pediatricians recommend the introduction of solid foods when your baby is between the ages of four to six months-old.  Typical signs to be on the lookout for that your baby may be ready to move onto solid foods can include some of the following:

* He/She can sit up with your support and can hold his/her neck up well.
*Her/His weight from birth has doubled.
*She/He can keep food in their mouth rather than letting it dribble out of his/her mouth.

      However, a new study published in the March 25th online edition of the medical journal Pediatrics, has revealed that many moms are introducing their babies to solid foods earlier than recommended.  Researchers examined data taken from an estimated 1, 300 mothers who decided to introduce solid food to their infants during the first year, as well as collected their reasoning's as to why they introduced solid food.  According to the study, 40.4 percent of moms started their babies on solid foods before they turned four months-old, with the highest percentage found among formula-fed infants (52.7 percent).  The lowest percentage was found in breast-fed infants (24.3) percent. 
     Additionally, while the study's researchers mentioned that they were many factors that influenced a mother's belief about infant feeding--mothers who introduced sold food earlier than recommended were found to be more likely to, "be younger, unmarried, have a lower level of education, or be participating in the WIC (Woman, Infants and Children) program." 
     Pediatricians across the country are noticeably concerned over this new trend, as the researchers note that, "babies bodies are not yet prepared for these foods, and early introduction may increase the risk of some chronic diseases.  It can also mean that the many benefits of breastfeeding are cut short."
      Modest Momma lies on the side of caution--- always follow the advice of your baby's pediatrician before you try to introduce solids to your little ones! :