Meningococcal Meningitis

Meningococcal disease is an acute, potentially severe illness caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. N. meningitidis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis in the United States. It can also cause focal disease, such as pneumonia and arthritis. Meningitis presents with symptoms of fever, headache, and stiff neck, often accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia (eye sensitivity to light), and altered mental status. Meningococcal sepsis (bloodstream infection) is characterized by the abrupt onset of fever and a rash. Complications of meningococcal infection include multi-organ failure, adrenal hemorrhage, shock, hearing loss, neurologic damage, loss of a limb and death. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of meningococcal disease are reported each year in the United States. In 2004, an estimated 125 deaths due to meningococcal disease occurred in the United States. The first vaccine for meningococcus was licensed in 1978. The vaccine in current use was licensed in 2005.
Meningococcus – Vaccine Information Sheet

 

• Adapted from www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/mening.pdf

 

 

Mumps

Mumps is an acute viral illness. The symptoms are nonspecific and include myalgias, anorexia, malaise, headache, and low-grade fever. Mumps can cause of number of infections including parotitis (inflammation of the salivary glands), orchitis (testicular inflammation), aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, hearing loss, pancreatitis and oophoritis (ovarian inflammation). The most recent mumps outbreak occurred in 2006 and resulted in 6,000 reported cases. The current live attenuated mumps virus vaccine was licensed in December 1967.  The vaccine was recommended for routine use in the United States in 1977.
Measles, Mumps & Rubella – Vaccine Information Sheet

 

• Adapted from www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/mumps.pdf

 

 

Pertussis

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The illness occurs in three stages which begin with fever and cold symptoms. The cough then rapidly progresses to paroxysms or frequent coughing spells followed by a long inspiratory effort accompanied by a characteristic high-pitched whoop. Children and young infants, especially, appear very ill and distressed. Duration of the illness is 2- 3 months with gradual improvement occurring over that time. The disease is most commonly transmitted from adolescents and adults to infants. Complications of pertussis include pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy and death. Despite vaccination, immunity to this illness wanes over time, 5 -10 years following the last dose. Pertussis incidence has been gradually increasing since the early 1980s. A total of 25,827 cases were reported in 2004, the largest number since 1959. Sixty percent of the cases occurred in individuals 11 years and older. Vaccination for pertussis occurs in two phases. The primary series was developed in the 1930s. In response to the increasing incidence of disease amongst adolescents and adults, the pertussis component was added to the tetanus booster in 2005.
Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis – Vaccine Information Sheet 
Tetanus & Pertussis Booster – Vaccine Information Sheet

 

• Adapted from www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/pert.pdf

 

 

Pneumococcus

Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, causes acute bacterial infections of the skin, ears, upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract, joints and bones. The major clinical syndromes of pneumococcal disease are pneumonia, bacteremia (bacteria in the bloodstream), and meningitis. As many as 175,000 hospitalizations from pneumococcal pneumonia are estimated to occur annually in the United States. An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 cases of pneumococcal meningitis occur each year. Before routine use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, an estimated 200 children died every year as a result of invasive pneumococcal disease. The pneumococcal vaccine was licensed in the United States in 1977. In 1983, the a 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) was licensed. This version of the vaccine is used in special circumstances. The current pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was licensed in the United States in 2000. It was updated to incorporate six additional strains in 2009. The current pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is used for routine infant care.

Pneumococcus (PCV13) – Vaccine Information Sheet

 

• Adapted from www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/pneumo.pdf

 

 

Polio

Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a viral infection which causes a spectrum of disease ranging from upper respiratory disease to aseptic meningitis and paralysis. It is the effect of poliomyelitis virus on the spinal cord that leads to the classic manifestation of paralysis. Polio can be acquired from the wild type virus as well as a rare complication of the live oral polio vaccine, vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis  (VAPP). The last case of wild-type polio acquired in the United States was in 1979. The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was introduced in 1955. The live oral polio vaccine (OPV) was introduced in 1961. In order to eliminate VAPP from the United States, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended in 2000 that IPV be used exclusively in the United States. Use of OPV was discontinued in the United States in 2000.
Polio – Vaccine Information Sheet

 

• Adapted from www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/polio.pdf

 

 

Rotavirus

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children in the United States. It occurs universally, with almost all children becoming infected by 5 years of age. Rotavirus infection is responsible for more than 400,000 physician visits, more than 200,000 emergency department (ED) visits, 55,000 –70,000 hospitalizations each year. It  is causes 20–60 deaths per year in the United States and up to 500,000  deaths from diarrhea worldwide. In infants and young children, it can lead to severe diarrhea, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. The symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and fever generally resolve within three to seven days. An estimated 2.7 million cases occur each year in the United States alone. A vaccine to prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis was first licensed in August 1998 but was withdrawn in 1999 because of its association with intussusception. A second-generation vaccine was licensed in 2006. It has shown no association with intussusception.
Rotavirus – Vaccine Information Sheet

 

• Adapted from www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/rota.pdf

 

 

Rubella

Rubella, or the “German measles,” causes symptoms including rash, cough, runny nose and low-grade fever. The rash usually occurs initially on the face and then progresses from head to foot. Complications of rubella include neuritis, orchitis, low platelet count, and encephalitis. In addition to its symptoms and complications, rubella can also affect the developing fetus causing congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Maternal infection during pregnancy may lead to fetal death, spontaneous abortion, or premature delivery. CRS is characterized by sensorineural deafness, cataracts, congenital heart disease, and a characteristic “blueberry muffin” rash. Children with CRS are at increased risk for developing growth retardation, diabetes, glaucoma, developmental delay and learning disabilities. A rubella epidemic in the United States in 1964–1965 resulted in 12.5 million cases of rubella infection and about 20,000 newborns with CRS. The first rubella vaccines were licensed in 1969. Due to the success of the vaccine, in 2004 there were no cases of CRS reported.
Measles, Mumps & Rubella – Vaccine Information Sheet

 

• Adapted from www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/rubella.pdf

 

 

Tetanus

Tetanus is an acute, often fatal, disease caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. This organism is found primarily in the soil and intestinal tracts of animals and humans. It is transmitted primarily through contaminated wounds. It is characterized by generalized rigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal muscles. The muscle stiffness usually involves the jaw (lockjaw) and neck and then becomes generalized. Laryngospasm (spasm of the vocal cords) and/or spasm of the muscles of respiration lead to interference with breathing. Fractures of the spine or long bones may result from sustained contractions and convulsions. Hypertension and an abnormal heart rhythm may also occur. Tetanus toxoid was developed by in 1924. In the late 1940s, tetanus toxoid was introduced into routine childhood immunization schedule. Tetanus toxoid is included as a component of several combination vaccines.
Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis – Vaccine Information Sheet
Tetanus & Pertussis Booster – Vaccine Information Sheet

 

• Adapted from www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/tetanus.pdf