'Pertussis vaccine encephalopathy': it is time to recognize it as the myth that it is

Article Abstract:

Vaccination of children against pertussis has succeeded in preventing thousands of cases of mental retardation and death during the past 40 years. But the pertussis vaccine, now given in the form of a combined, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine, has been wrongly blamed during the past decade for causing brain damage. Three recent research studies, which combined involved 230,000 children and 713,000 immunizations, have demonstrated that the pertussis vaccine causes no permanent neurological damage. Another ongoing study has failed to implicate the pertussis vaccine in causing any form of encephalopathy (brain dysfunction). It is important that the phenomenon of 'pertussis vaccine encephalopathy' be recognized as a myth. The major error made by physicians who believed this misconception was to assume that neurological events occurring after vaccination were due to the vaccine, whereas this was apparently not the case. A group of parents who believed their children had been harmed by the vaccine organized to express their outrage, and were encouraged by the media and personal-injury lawyers. Some well-intentioned physicians joined the group, which became the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This was unfortunate, as it created much national confusion and established an unscientific precedent for defining what is and is not a vaccine-related injury. Guidelines for risks and benefits of vaccines must be revised to reflect the most recent scientific data, in order to end this "national nonsense" about pertussis vaccine encephalopathy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

editorial

---

Risk of seizures and encephalopathy after immunization with the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine

Article Abstract:

Cases have been reported of seizures and other neurological events that occurred in children shortly after immunization with the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. It is not clear whether the DTP vaccine caused these events, and little research has been done to investigate the subject. A large group of children was studied to evaluate the risk of seizures and other neurological complications following DTP vaccination; 38,171 children received 107,154 DTP immunizations during the first three years of life and were followed for adverse reactions. The children lived in Tennessee and were receiving Medicaid; most were poor and nonwhite. Results showed that there was no increased risk of either afebrile (without fever) seizures or acute symptomatic seizures in the three days following immunization. Risk of febrile seizures in the three days after immunization was 1.5 times that observed during a control period, but this was not a significant increase in risk. No child who had no previous history of seizures had a seizure in the three days after immunization that led to either epilepsy or another developmental or neurological disorder. The results differ from some previous studies, which have reported an increase in febrile seizures after DTP immunization. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Prevention, Diphtheria

---

Invasive pneumococcal disease among infants before and after introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

Article Abstract:

A test was conducted to determine the rates of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in young infants before and after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was incorporated into the childhood immunization schedule. It was seen that since PCV7 introduction, rates of IPD in young infants have decreased significantly, providing evidence that vaccinating children aged 2-23 months has led to change in pneumococcal carriage in infants too young to receive PCV7.

United States, Health aspects, Development and progression, Pneumococcal vaccine, Pneumococcal vaccines, Infants, Pneumococcal infections, Control, Dosage and administration

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Diastolic heart failure -- no time to relax. Obesity and the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation. Pulse pressure and risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation
• Abstracts: Medicine's voice is the key to reform. MSAs back in Medicare mix
• Abstracts: Recombinant interferon alfa therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Glomerulonephritis caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection: treatment with recombinant human alpha-interferon
• Abstracts: Failure to recognize fetal alcohol syndrome in newborn infants. Alcohol abuse during pregnancy: changes in frequency in a large urban hospital
• Abstracts: Prevalence and determinants of estrogen replacement therapy in elderly women. Appendicular bone density and age predict hip fracture in women

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.