Vaccines Medical Reference

Measles is a dangerous, contagious disease with no treatment or cure. What it does have, though, is a low-cost vaccine that’s 97% effective in preventing the virus.

Mumps is a viral infection that mainly affects the salivary glands. Learn the symptoms of this once-common condition.

Mumps is a viral infection that can cause swelling of the salivary glands. Find out what causes it, who’s likely to get it, and what the treatment involves.

Pneumococcus is a type of bacteria that can cause several severe infections, including pneumonia, meningitis, and blood infections (sepsis). These infections can be serious and even life - threatening, especially in people with impaired immune systems, older adults, and children younger than 2 years of age.Doctors use two types of pneumococcal vaccines for routine immunization: pneumococcal ...

Other Works ConsultedAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (2003). Tetanus (Lockjaw). In LK Pickering, ed., Red Book: 2003 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 26th ed., pp. 611–616. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.Bleck TP (2005). Clostridium tetani (Tetanus). In GL Mandell et al., eds., Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 6t

What is tetanus?Tetanus is a disease caused by a bacterial infection. The bacteria make a toxin, or poison, that causes severe muscle spasms. Tetanus can be very dangerous, but you can get a shot to prevent it. Tetanus is also called "lockjaw" because muscle spasms in your jaw make it hard to open your mouth. Tetanus also causes seizures and makes it hard for you to swallow or breathe.In the ...

Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.comChickenpox (varicella) is a common contagious illness that is caused by a type of herpes virus.Chickenpox is most common in children and is usually not serious. In teenagers, adults, pregnant women, and people who have impaired immune systems, chickenpox can be more serious.Symptoms include a

A list of resources for information on Rotavirus.

A list of topics related to Rotavirus.

What is rotavirus,and what causes it? Rotavirus is a virus that infects the intestinal tract of almost all young children by age 5. In the United States,most children get sick from rotavirus by age 2. A rotavirus infection causes stomach upset and diarrhea. Babies and very young children with rotavirus infections need to be watched closely because they can become dehydrated. Dehydration ...

CitationsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (2006). Recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule-United States, 2006. MMWR, 54(52): Q1–Q4. Also available online: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5451 - Immunizationa1.htm.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005). Recommended adult immunization schedule-United States, October 2005–September 2006. MMWR, 54

Vaccines help prevent people from getting sick. There are many kinds of vaccines. Each vaccine is made up of parts of weakened or killed bacteria or viruses of a specific disease. After you have a vaccine, your body's immune system makes antibodies to fight the disease. If you are exposed to the same disease in the future, the antibodies kill the bacteria or viruses before they have a chance to ..

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes Vaccine Information Statements (VISs), which have details about most vaccines given in the United States.The information in these statements does not change often. The VISs are updated when needed. But the VISs are usually updated sometime after the standard immunization schedules. The standard immunization schedules have the most current

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other national organizations advise people about which vaccines they should get and when. One schedule is for children and teens (adolescents), another is for adults. Also, some people with health problems such as diabetes have a different immunization schedule than people who are healthy. Childhood and adolescent ...

Learn about causes of meningitis.

Home treatment usually is all that is needed for most people who have viral meningitis. It includes: Reducing fever. Sometimes no treatment is needed for fever. Cool washcloths to the forehead, cool baths, and medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) o

Treatment for meningitis depends on the organism causing the infection, your age, the extent of the infection, and the presence of other medical conditions or complications of meningitis.

Learn the symptoms of meningitis.

This list of authors contributed to the article on meningitis.

Learn about meningitis, patterns of symptoms, and risk factors.

Medications used to treat meningitis depend on the organism causing the infection, the extent of the infection, and the person's age and general health.

Learn about exams and tests used to diagnose meningitis.

Factors that may increase the risk for meningitis include: Genetics. Some people may inherit the tendency to develop meningitis if they come in contact with organisms that can cause the infection. Sex. Males get meningitis more often than females. Age. In

People with severe meningitis or complications during illness may need to be treated in the intensive care unit of a hospital.

Learn when to call 911 about meningitis symptoms.