Showing posts with label vaccines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vaccines. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
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Every year, as we
head into the fall, parents being gearing up for the upcoming cold and flu
season. Parents of preemies and
other babies with chronic diseases have another virus they need to be concerned
about: RSV.
Respiratory Syncytial
Virus (RSV) is an infection that can cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia in very
young infants, particularly those under the age of 1. Preemies, babies under the age of 2 who have congenital
heart disease or chronic lung disease, and children with compromised immune
systems are at the highest risk for severe illness. As a result, it’s important to protect
your preemie as much as possible so they do not become infected with RSV.
RSV is transmitted
through similar ways as a cold.
When someone coughs or sneezes, airborne droplets can infect someone who
inhales them or comes in direct contact with them another way, via the eyes,
nose, or mouth. You can also
become infected with the virus through indirect contact with a contaminated
surface, such as a doorknob, and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with
your hand.
Preventative measures
are similar to measures used to avoid infection from colds and influenza. Good hand hygiene should be practiced:
wash thoroughly for a minimum of 15-20 seconds with soap and water, or use
alcohol-based hand sanitizers before handling your preemie, especially after
blowing your nose or coughing into your hands. Avoid those who are sick, and ask people who are ill to
avoid visits until they are no longer contagious. If you need to take your preemie out in public, baby
wearing, either in a carrier or wrap, can help deter the general public from
trying to touch your child, or you can purchase a small stop sign to hang on
the handle of your infant seat (or attach to your stroller) that says “Please
wash your hands before touching mine.”
You can purchase a sign at My Tiny Hands or Its a Preemie Thing
Some preemies will
qualify for an antibody shot (Synagis) to help protect them from RSV infection. Synagis works like the flu shot in that
it will help lessen the severity of symptoms if RSV infection occurs, but it will
not completely prevent infection from happening. Synagis is given monthly throughout the duration of RSV
season for your area.
The CDC website is a
fabulous source of information on RSV.
The following are links to specific pages that may be helpful to you as
you journey through the season:
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
As a preemie
mama, one of the things that has plagued me over the last year was my inability
to carry my daughter to term. I
developed severe preeclampsia and IUGR, and had to deliver at 29 weeks 2 days. 4 months later, we received another blow when
Judith was officially diagnosed with a life-shortening, chronic, and
potentially life-threatening lung disease: cystic fibrosis. My husband and I knew from the start of
Judith’s life that we wanted to do what was best for her, much like any parent
would. Part of this plan included a
crucial element: vaccines.
Since preemies can be prone to complications from many different diseases, vaccines are an important part of their care. It’s not just the standard vaccines that all children should get (think Hepatitis, polio, MMR, etc.) - it also includes critical vaccines against the flu, and against RSV. Just like with adult vaccines against the flu, children can still get the flu (and yes, even RSV) even though they received the shot; the crucial element is the vaccine will prevent the virus from growing, and will help lessen the severity of the virus. In some cases, it could make a difference in treatment, and could help keep the little one from landing back in the hospital (granted, there are exceptions to everything). It’s one more step preemie parents can take to protect their child/children.
Many pediatricians will vaccinate a preemie based off of their actual age. I remember having this discussion with our pediatrician and our neonatologists; they explained to me that they vaccinate preemies this way to help give their immune systems the protection it needs from these harmful diseases. After receiving that information, I had a decision to make with my husband about how to approach vaccinating Judith: did we want to follow the standard vaccine schedule, or did we want to follow a delayed schedule? I know a lot of preemie parents who choose/chose to follow a delayed schedule, and work with their pediatrician to set something up. I also know a lot of preemie parents who follow the standard schedule, and I know many preemie parents who mostly follow the standard schedule but will delay a couple vaccines. Personally, we follow the standard schedule with modifications: our pediatrician will not overload Judith with too many vaccines at once, but she will receive the vaccines within the recommended time frame. That’s just our decision though - every preemie parent is different, and they need to follow a schedule they are comfortable with.
I know this isn’t a lot of information; the best source of information is your pediatrician, and they very well may recommend something different than the information I received. Work with your preemie’s doctor, and figure out what will work best for your situation, and what you would be comfortable with. Together, you and your doctor can help give your little miracle the extra protection they need!
Since preemies can be prone to complications from many different diseases, vaccines are an important part of their care. It’s not just the standard vaccines that all children should get (think Hepatitis, polio, MMR, etc.) - it also includes critical vaccines against the flu, and against RSV. Just like with adult vaccines against the flu, children can still get the flu (and yes, even RSV) even though they received the shot; the crucial element is the vaccine will prevent the virus from growing, and will help lessen the severity of the virus. In some cases, it could make a difference in treatment, and could help keep the little one from landing back in the hospital (granted, there are exceptions to everything). It’s one more step preemie parents can take to protect their child/children.
Many pediatricians will vaccinate a preemie based off of their actual age. I remember having this discussion with our pediatrician and our neonatologists; they explained to me that they vaccinate preemies this way to help give their immune systems the protection it needs from these harmful diseases. After receiving that information, I had a decision to make with my husband about how to approach vaccinating Judith: did we want to follow the standard vaccine schedule, or did we want to follow a delayed schedule? I know a lot of preemie parents who choose/chose to follow a delayed schedule, and work with their pediatrician to set something up. I also know a lot of preemie parents who follow the standard schedule, and I know many preemie parents who mostly follow the standard schedule but will delay a couple vaccines. Personally, we follow the standard schedule with modifications: our pediatrician will not overload Judith with too many vaccines at once, but she will receive the vaccines within the recommended time frame. That’s just our decision though - every preemie parent is different, and they need to follow a schedule they are comfortable with.
I know this isn’t a lot of information; the best source of information is your pediatrician, and they very well may recommend something different than the information I received. Work with your preemie’s doctor, and figure out what will work best for your situation, and what you would be comfortable with. Together, you and your doctor can help give your little miracle the extra protection they need!
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