Health Insurance

Health insurance is insurance that pays for medical expenses. It is sometimes used more broadly to include insurance covering disability or long-term nursing or custodial care needs. It may be provided through a government-sponsored social insurance program, or from private insurance companies. It may be purchased on a group basis (e.g., by a firm to cover its employees) or purchased by individual consumers. In each case, the covered groups or i

Read More

MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) Vaccine

The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles). MMR vaccinations are given by injection in two doses. The first is administered at age 12 to 15 months; the second generally is given at age 4 to 6 years. Why the Vaccine Is Recommended Measles, mumps, and rubella are infections that can lead to significant illness. More than 95% of children receiving MMR will be protected from the three diseases throughout their li

Read More

Influenza Vaccine

Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. Immunization Schedule These groups, who are at increased risk of flu-related complications, should receive the flu shot every year: all children between 6 months and 18 years old, especially those 6 to 59 months oldany child or adult with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and HIV/AID

Read More

IPV

Polio is a viral infection that can result in permanent paralysis. Immunization Schedule The inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is usually given at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years. Until recently, the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) was given in the United States. Updated recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices now call for IPV injections. This change eliminates the previous small risk of

Read More

Hib Vaccine

Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria were the leading cause of meningitis in children until the Hib vaccine became available. Immunization Schedule The Hib vaccine is given by injection at ages 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months (however, some of the Hib vaccines do not require a dose at 6 months). A booster dose is given at 12 to 15 months. Why the Vaccine Is Recommended Long-term protection from Haemophilus influenzae type b occurs in mor

Read More

Mumps part 2

Contagiousness The mumps virus is contagious and spreads in tiny drops of fluid from the mouth and nose of someone who is infected. It can be passed to others through sneezing, coughing, or even laughing. The virus can also spread to other people through direct contact, such as picking up tissues or using drinking glasses that have been used by the infected person. People who have mumps are most contagious from 2 days before symptoms begin to

Read More

Mumps part 1

Mumps is a disease caused by a virus that usually spreads through saliva and can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands. These glands, which produce saliva for the mouth, are found toward the back of each cheek, in the area between the ear and jaw. In cases of mumps, these glands typically swell and become painful. The disease has been recognized for several centuries, and medical historians argue over whether the

Read More

Conditions Associated With Apnea

Apnea can be seen in connection with: Apparent Life-Threatening Events (ALTEs) An ALTE itself is not a sleep disorder — it's a serious event with a combination of apnea and change in color, change in muscle tone, choking, or gagging. Call 911 immediately if your child shows the signs of an ALTE. ALTEs, especially in young infants, are often associated with medical conditions that require treatment Examples of these medical conditions include

Read More

Apnea

Everyone has brief pauses in their breathing pattern called apnea. Usually these brief stops are completely normal. Sometimes, though, apnea can cause a prolonged pause in breathing, making the breathing pattern irregular. Someone with apnea might actually stop breathing for short amounts of time, decreasing oxygen levels in the body and disrupting sleep. Types of Apnea The word apnea comes from the Greek word meaning "without wind." Although

Read More

DTaP Vaccine

DTaP The DTaP vaccine protects against: diphtheria — a serious infection of the throat that can block the airway and cause severe breathing difficultytetanus (lockjaw) — a nerve disease, which can occur at any age, caused by toxin-producing bacteria contaminating a woundpertussis (whooping cough) — a respiratory illness with cold symptoms that progress to severe coughing (the "whooping" sound occurs when the child breathes in deeply after a se

Read More

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV) The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) protects against pneumococcal infections. The bacterium is a leading cause of serious infections, including pneumonia, blood infections, and bacterial meningitis. Children under 2 years old, adults over 65 years old, and people with certain medical conditions are most susceptible to serious pneumococcal infections. The pneumococcus bacterium is spread through person-to-person

Read More

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis B Hepatitis B virus (HBV) affects the liver. Those who are infected can become lifelong carriers of the virus and may develop long-term problems such as cirrhosis (liver disease) or cancer of the liver. Immunization Schedule Hepatitis B vaccine usually is given as a series of three injections. The first shot is often given to infants shortly after birth. If the mother of a newborn carries the hepatitis B virus in her blood, the infa

Read More

Staph Infections part 3

MRSA You may have heard about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of staph bacteria with a resistance to the antibiotics usually used to treat staph infections. Although MRSA infections can be harder to treat, in most cases they heal with proper care. Most MRSA infections involve the skin, but sometimes MRSA can cause more serious problems, such as bone infections or pneumonia. MRSA pneumonia is rare, but is more of a ri

Read More

Staph Infections part 2

Complications of Staph Infections Staph bacteria can cause toxic shock syndrome, cellulitis, and these infections: Folliculitis and Boils Folliculitis is an infection of hair follicles, tiny pockets under the skin where hair shafts (strands) grow. In folliculitis, tiny white-headed pimples appear at the base of hair shafts, sometimes with a small red area around each pimple. This infection often occurs in areas where there's been friction or

Read More

Staph Infections part 1

What Are Staph Infections? Staph infections are caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, which many healthy people carry on their skin and in their noses without getting sick. But when skin is punctured or broken, staph bacteria can enter the wound and cause infections, which can lead to other health problems. You can help prevent staph infections in your family by encouraging regular hand washing and daily bathing, and by keeping areas t

Read More

Smallpox

Smallpox is an infection caused by the variola virus. For centuries, epidemics of smallpox affected people all over the globe, and the disease was often serious. But in 1796, an English doctor named Edward Jenner discovered a way to protect people from getting smallpox, which led to the development of the first smallpox vaccine. The vaccine worked so well that there hasn't been a case of smallpox in the United States since 1949. The United Stat

Read More

Sinusitis

Sinuses are moist air spaces within the bones of the face around the nose. When sinuses swell or become irritated, the infection is called sinusitis. These infections usually follow colds or bouts with allergies. Cases of sinusitis are common and can be easily treated. Causes The sinuses are four sets of hollow spaces that are located in the cheekbones, the forehead, behind the nasal passages, and deep in the brain. Sinuses are lined with the

Read More

Syphilis

Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease (STD), can be frightening because if it goes untreated, it can lead to serious health problems and increase a person's risk for getting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. A syphilis infection can be treated in its early stages with antibiotics, and can be prevented by avoiding sexual contact with someone who is infected. Unfortunately, people don't always know that they are infected, so anyone having sex (oral, anal, or vaginal) should take precautions against STDs and get

Read More

Shigella

Shigella are bacteria that can infect the digestive tract and cause a wide range of symptoms, from diarrhea, cramping, vomiting, and nausea, to more serious complications and illnesses. Infections, called shigellosis, sometimes go away on their own; in others, antibiotics can shorten the course of the illness. Shigellosis, which is most common during the summer months, typically affects kids 2 to 4 years old, and rarely infects infants younger

Read More

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is caused by an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria. The bacteria make a toxin (poison) that can cause the scarlet-colored rash from which this illness gets its name. Not all streptococci bacteria make this toxin and not all kids are sensitive to it. Two kids in the same family may both have strep infections, but one child (who is sensitive to the toxin) may develop the rash of scarlet fever while the other may not. Usua

Read More

Salmonella Infection

A salmonella infection is a foodborne illness caused by the salmonella bacteria carried by some animals, which can be transmitted from kitchen surfaces and can be in water, soil, animal feces, raw meats, and eggs. Salmonella infections typically affect the intestines, causing vomiting, fever, and other symptoms that usually resolve without medical treatment. You can help prevent salmonella infections by not serving any raw meat or eggs, and by

Read More