Wondering Where to Get Shots in 2010? There are many organizations around Houston that provide free and low cost immunizations. Click here for more information.
Teens need vaccines
Effective
March 5, 2009, the Texas Department of State Health Services requires
the following vaccines for entry into 7th
grade for the 2009 – 2010 school year:
A severe bacterial
infection that can cause meningitis, bloodstream infection, and other
localized infections. Meningitis
is characterized by fever, headache, and stiff neck. Other symptoms
may include nausea, vomiting, and mental status changes. Symptoms
develop and progress rapidly even leading to death in 24-48 hours.
Meningococcal
bacteremia
is a bloodstream infection characterized by sudden onset of fever and
in severe cases a petechial rash (small red or purple spots on the
skin) or purpuric rash (red or purple discolorations on the skin). Meningococcal
bacteremia can
result in joint infection, pneumonia, organ system failure, shock,
and death. Spread by direct contact with large droplet respiratory
secretions (coughing, sneezing, kissing, mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation). Close household contacts of persons with
meningococcal disease are at greatly increased risk of infection.
There are nearly
3,000 cases of meningococcal disease every year in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
between 10-12 percent of the cases are fatal (about 300 to 360). Among those who survive meningococcal disease, approximately 20
percent suffer long-term consequences, such as brain damage, kidney
disease, hearing loss or limb amputations.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly communicable bacterial disease characterized by cough, followed by vomiting and whooping. It is named after the “whoop” sound that children often make when they try to breathe during a severe coughing spell. However, people who have mild whooping cough do not always make the “whoop” sound.
Whooping
cough is caused by the bacterium Bordetella
pertussis
found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person, and is
spread through close contact when an infected person talks, sneezes
or coughs. Infants
younger than 6 months who have not received their primary vaccine series
to protect them from pertussis are at highest risk for apnea,
pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy, and death.
Ninety percent of unvaccinated children living with someone with whooping cough will also get the disease.
Pre-teens and teens get whooping cough more often than any other age group except for infants younger than one year (496 cases per 100,000 adolescents).
Most adolescents who get whooping cough are ill for several weeks and visit several physicians before they are diagnosed.
Whooping cough may cause pneumonia, bruised ribs, collapsed lungs, increased urination, seizures, infections of the brain and death in pre-teens and teens.
The CDC recommends that persons aged 11 – 12 years receive the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine, or Tdap. This FDA-approved vaccine helps prevent not only whooping cough, but also tetanus and diphtheria.
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis Diseases (Tdap) Resources
Bacterial infection of the skin with the varicella zoster virus, which causes an itchy rash, swelling of the brain, and pneumonia. The skin rash is blister-like lesions, covering the body but usually more concentrated on the face, scalp, and trunk. Most, but not all, infected individuals have fever, which develops just before or when the rash appears. If exposed, persons who have been vaccinated against the disease may get a milder illness, with less severe rash (sometimes involving only a few red bumps that look similar to insect bites) and mild or no fever. Adolescents and adults are more at risk for severe disease.
Varicella is spread by coughing and sneezing (highly contagious), by direct contact, and by aerosolization of virus from skin lesions.
In addition to these required immunizations, your doctor may recommend two more vaccines to protect your adolescent from these diseases.
Human
Papillomavirus Disease (HPV)
Genital
human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted
infection (STI). The virus infects the skin and mucous membranes. There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of
men and women, including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside
the vagina), and anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, and
rectum. You cannot see HPV. Most people who become infected with
HPV do not even know they have it. But sometimes, certain types of
HPV can cause genital warts in men and women. Other HPV types can
cause cervical cancer and other less common cancers, such as cancers
of the vulva, vagina, anus, and penis. The types of HPV that can
cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause
cancer.
Genital warts usually appear as small bumps or groups of bumps, usually in the genital area. They can be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large, and sometimes cauliflower shaped. They can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix, and on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh. Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person. Or, they may not appear at all. If left untreated, genital warts may go away, remain unchanged, or increase in size or number. They will not turn into cancer.
Cervical cancer does not have symptoms until it is quite advanced. For this reason, it is important for women to get screened regularly for cervical cancer.
Other less common HPV-related cancers, such as cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus and penis, also may not have signs or symptoms until they are advanced.
HPV infection. Approximately 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, and another 6.2 million people become newly infected each year. At least 50% of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives.
Genital warts. About 1% of sexually active adults in the U.S. have genital warts at any one time.
Cervical cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, 11,070 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S.
Other HPV-related cancers are much less common than cervical cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, there will be:
3,460 women diagnosed with vulvar cancer;
2,210 women diagnosed with vaginal and other female genital cancers;
1,250 men diagnosed with penile and other male genital cancers; and
3,050 women and 2,020 men diagnosed with anal cancer.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
Every year in the United States, on average:
5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; and
about 36,000 people die from flu.
Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Symptoms of flu include:
fever (usually high)
headache
extreme tiredness
dry cough
sore throat
runny or stuffy nose
muscle aches
Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
Meningococcal
Disease Resources
