TOUGH QUESTIONS -> STRAIGHT ANSWERS
Do vaccines cause autism?
Are vaccines dangerous?
When must be given?
Childhood vaccines protect children from a variety of serious or potentially fatal diseases (diphtheria,polio,measles,pertussis etc.). These diseases seem uncommon because vaccines are doing their job.
What are the benefits and risks of childhood vaccines ?
A natural infection might provide better immunity than vaccination but there are many serious risks. A natural Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib) infection can cause brain damage,a chickenpox infection could lead to pneumonia. A natural mumps infection could lead to deafness or a natural polio infection could cause permanent paralysis.
Vaccination can help prevent these diseases and their complications.
These preventable diseases are most likely to occur when a child is very young and the risk of complications is very high.That makes early vaccination essential. Might be too late if someone postpone vaccination until a child is older.
Vaccines can cause side effects but usually mild e.g. low-grade fever, fussiness and soreness at the injection site , loss of appetite or temporary headache. Rarely these side effects might be more severe like an allergic reaction or a neurological side effect (seizures) but the risk of a vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small.
The benefits of getting a vaccine are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.
Vaccines are not given to children who have known allergies to specific vaccine component or if a child developed a life-threatening reaction to a particular vaccine further doses of that one won’t be given.
Skipping vaccines is never a good idea because this can leave a child vulnerable to potentially serious diseases that could be avoided.
The only protection from vaccine-preventable diseases for some children including those who can’t receive certain vaccines for medical reasons is the immunity of the people around them. Vaccination of your child can protect other people as well , like other members of your family.
Some people are afraid that vaccines can cause autism. Vaccines Do Not cause autism. Researchers haven’t found any connection between autism and childhood vaccines and the original study that ignited the debate years ago has been retracted.
Vaccines are safe and effective and it’s always better to prevent than to treat a disease and this is what the vaccines do.
Do you have reservations about particular vaccines or your child has fallen behind the vaccines schedule ?
Ask your child’s doctor!
Dr. Nikos Konnaris MD
Paediatrician
Ref: AAP , HPA , Mayo Clinic, NHS etc.
How do I know if my child is at risk for kidney disease?
Your child may be at risk for kidney disease if he or she:
- is overweight
- has pain in the back, side, or lower belly
- complains of burning or pain when urinating, has changes in the urine, or often wets his or her pants
- has unexplained fever
- has swelling in the feet, ankles, or legs
- wakes up with swollen eyelids
- becomes dehydrated often
- has a family member with kidney disease
Other conditions that may put your child at increased risk for kidney disease include:
- SGA (small for gestational age) or born premature
- a growth disorder
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- rickets (soft bones caused by too little vitamin D)
- other conditions that run in families, such as polycystic kidney disease, Al port Syndrome, or heart disease
What do the kidneys do?
Your child has two kidneys. Their main job is to filter wastes and extra water from the blood. Wastes and water pass through the kidneys and leave the body as urine. The kidneys also make hormones that help the body make blood and keep the bones strong.
What is kidney disease?
Infections or other health problems can cause kidney disease. When a child has kidney disease, the kidneys may not work normally. This may lead to a harmful buildup of wastes in the body.
How can I find out if my child has kidney disease?
A urine test can be used to check for kidney disease if your child is at risk. Testing is important because early kidney disease often has no symptoms. Your child will urinate in a cup, and the sample will be tested for kidney disease.
What does the urine test look for?
The urine test checks for albumin. Albumin is a protein in your child's blood that is too big to pass through healthy kidneys. If your child's kidneys are damaged, small amounts of albumin can pass into the urine through the kidneys. In general, the more albumin there is in the urine, the more damaged the kidneys are.
What does high urine albumin mean?
A high urine albumin level may mean that your child has kidney disease. Your health care provider may do other tests for kidney disease, including a blood test, which checks how well the kidneys are filtering.
Can kidney disease be treated?
Kidney disease has many possible causes. The first step is to learn the cause of the kidney disease. Medicine and other treatments usually can't undo the damage that has been done, but they may help prevent more harm. Your provider may ask you to take your child to a nephrologist—a doctor who treats patients with kidney disease.