Nowadays, it's much rarer for young children to be hospitalized for severe infections than it was even a decade ago. Still, almost 2.5 million infants are admitted to the hospital each year due to infections, and if children up to age 5 are included, the number of infection-caused hospitalizations soars to 4.5 million annually, according to a recent report in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Luckily, most serious infections are preventable, experts say. Vaccines have helped to dramatically reduce the numbers. Simpler measures, such as soap and water, are also tremendously effective at removing even scary bugs like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. To protect your child from a surprise hospital stay, watch out for the pathogens most often responsible for pediatric admissions:
ROTAVIRUS
Just a few years ago, this severe diarrhea and dehydration-causing virus was a real menace, landing more than 50,000 infants and young children in U.S. hospitals annually, according to the
After helping cripple the virus's threat, Rotarix hit its own snag in March when bits of pig virus unexpectedly showed up in the vaccine, prompting the
STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE
This bug, which can lead to life-threatening meningitis and deafness, is the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia. But pneumococcal infections have become a lesser danger among children in the U.S. since 2000, when vaccination with the Prevnar or PCV7 vaccine became routine. After its introduction, severe pneumococcal diseases in children younger than 5 fell by 80 percent, according to the CDC.
The vaccine protects against seven types of S. pneumoniae, while more than 90 so-called serotypes exist. In February, the ACIP recommended the use of a new vaccine instead, named Prevnar 13, that children under age 2 should receive in four doses. PCV13 protects against an antibiotic-resistant form of the bacteria as well as 12 other serotypes. If a child has a fever, cough, and noisy, labored, or rapid breathing, pneumonia--an infection of the lung--may be the culprit.
H1N1 "SWINE FLU"
Since
Although swine flu had a milder impact than expected last year, experts have recommended that everyone older than 6 months get vaccinated ahead of the upcoming flu season. The 2010-11 seasonal flu vaccine is expected to cover both seasonal flu and H1N1, while last year's came in two separate vaccines. Count on H1N1 to continue making headlines in months ahead, says Baltimore.
RSV
Nearly all infants and toddlers will be exposed to respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and can even catch the bug from a parent, who may mistake their own RSV infection for a common cold. The risk of RSV infection is smaller in young healthy children, but in infants and premature newborns, RSV can be serious and may lead to pneumonia.
The virus is responsible for killing as many as 200,000 children worldwide, and hospitalizing anywhere between 75,000 and 125,000 infants in the U.S. annually, according to the CDC. No RSV vaccine exists. As a preventive measure, high-risk infants are typically given an antibody shot against it.
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection has led to nearly 30,000 child hospitalizations in the last decade, according to data from just over two dozen children's hospitals newly published in the journal Pediatrics. MRSA cases in kids leapt from 2 in every 1,000 hospital admissions in 1999 to 21 in 2008, researchers reported.
What has experts especially concerned is that the so-called superbug, which causes pneumonia and bone and joint infections, is being acquired in the community, not in the hospital as it has in years past. What's more, this breed of MRSA, which survives on surfaces as well as on hands, is genetically different than hospital-acquired MRSA and can cause severe, even lethal infections in otherwise healthy children. The majority of MRSA skin infections--unsightly red bumps or boils--can be treated, however, without hospitalization, says Baltimore. The bacteria often spread among children playing contact sports, as they lurk on their sweaty gym socks, jerseys, and other workout gear that may be shared.
NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS
While Neisseria meningitidis infection is more rare than others on this list, it is extremely harmful, leading kids quickly downhill before doctors have time to administer antibiotics. The bacteria, which can cause meningitis, bloodstream infections, or death, can live in the nose and mouth and spread among people living in close quarters.
A vaccine that protects against four types of N. meningitidis is recommended for children ages 11 and older before they go off to college. A type not protected by the vaccine is dangerous in kids younger than 2. Beware of the telltale splotchy purple rash, especially if it darkens or spreads rapidly, a signal to see a pediatrician right away.
PERTUSSIS
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a bacterial infection that causes a very distinctive cough and cold-like symptoms. A vaccine for pertussis has long held it in check. Within the last 30 years, however, U.S. pertussis cases have been increasing. The infection is usually mild in adults and children, but in infants, pertussis may be life-threatening. Pneumonia, seizures, and brain damage are additional dangers.
DTaP, a combination vaccine that also shields against tetanus and diphtheria, is given to children in five doses: once at ages 2, 4, and 6 months, once between 12 and 18 months, and once between 4 and 6 years old. Because the vaccine's benefits wane over time--and because infants under 2 months are not protected--adults and healthcare workers who are in regular contact with infants are advised to get a whooping cough booster, the Tdap, to avoid spreading the infection.
Available at Amazon.com:
- Largest Ever Cell Phone Cancer Study is Inconclusive
- Treating Early-Stage Esophageal Cancer
- TNF Inhibitors Offer Relief to Those With Rheumatoid Arthritis
- TNF Inhibitors Offer Relief to Those With Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Advances in Breast Cancer Screening Helping to Fine-Tune Diagnosis
- Beware of Using Psychotropics During Pregnancy
- Prostate Exam Good First Stop When PSA Levels Increase
- 7 Nasty Germs That Could Land Your Kid in the Hospital And How to Avoid Them
- Omega-3 Foods Don't Always Add Up
- First Aid for Summer
- Get the Best Tan Without the Burn
- Is Agave Nectar Better for You than Ordinary Sugar?
- Loving Legumes for all the Right Reasons: Health, Flavor and Value
- Radishes, Spring's Favorite Vegetable
- The Microscopic World of Food Nanotechnology
- Ultraviolet Light Offers Benefits for Some Skin Conditions
- Secondhand Smoke A Serious Public and Personal Health Problem
- What to do About Excessive Belching and Feeling Full?
- Chest Pain: A Heart Attack or Something Else?
- Screening Plays Key Role in Detecting Polyps Before They Become Cancerous
- Streamline Your Daily Life
- Learn How to Read Supplement Labels
- What Parents Can Do to Keep Kids From Snacking Their Way to Obesity
- Though No Cure for POTS, Symptoms Can Often Be Effectively Managed
- Chicken Tortilla Wraps
- Compression-Only CPR Can Replace Conventional CPR in Many Circumstances
- Diabetes: Could You Have Diabetes and Not Know It
- Fighting Inflammation with Food
- Have a Healthy Vacation
- Cortisone Injections Unlikely to Have Negative Affect on Bones
- Bad Health Habits Rob Years From Life Span
- Beating Back Pandemics is a Cooperative Crusade
- The Importance of Decreasing Dietary Sodium
- Indoor Tanning Definitively Linked to Deadliest Skin Cancer
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Takes Your Breath Away
- 7 Ways to Prevent Heart Disease
- Hypotension or Stiff Arteries May Cause Low Diastolic Blood Pressure
- Is It OK to Travel to a High Altitude With High Blood Pressure?
- Existing Drugs to Treat Herpes Are Very Effective
- Dry Mouth Can Be a Serious Problem
- 6 Simple Ways to Improve Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
- All About Gout: Old Disease Becoming More Common
- Frequent Monitoring Critical to Effectively Manage Scleroderma
- Sick Day TLC
- When to Call the Doctor
- Chocolate Reduces Inflammation Associated with Heart Disease
- Healthy Eating Tips for a Busy Lifestyle
- Olive Oil and Health
- Push for Healthier Diets Means Big Changes for the Food Industry
- How to Identify Suicide Risk Before It's Too Late
- Tips for Natural Allergy Relief
- Inflammation May Play Role in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Bouncing Back After Being Sick
- Longevity Revolution Will Restructure Life Around the World
- Maximum Fitness: CrossFit Training
- Tests to Optimize Treatment of Breast Cancer
- Insulin: Hormone That Regulates Blood Sugar Now May Save Your Brain
- Enjoy the Health Benefits of Tea
- Can Your Toothbrush Make You Sick?
- Sunscreen Facts You Need to Know
- Fight Inflammation With the Right Diet
- When does Knee Replacement Surgery Make Sense
- Asthma and Allergies Can Run in Families
- Is Hefty the New Healthy?
- Nicotine Patch May Offer Some Benefit to Ulcerative Colitis
- Best Way to Take Heartburn Medication
- Salivary Gland Stones Rare But Not Unheard of in Children
- Fight Dry Skin and Win
- Aerobics Without Heartburn
- How Much Vitamin D is Enough
- Are Carbonated Drinks Bad for Bones?
- Common Myths and Misconceptions About Diabetes
- Vitamin E Supplements Not Recommended for Those With Diabetes
- Tick-Borne Disease Risk Peaks in Spring and Summer
- Are Carbonated Drinks Bad for Bones?
- Meibomitis Creates Receptive Environment for Bacteria
- Top 4 Seasonal Allergy Mistakes
- Stress Less: Ten Strategies That Work
- Paralyzed Limbs Revived by Hacking Into Nerves
- The Threat of Childhood Obesity
- Nature's Gym: Exercising Outdoors
- Eat Smart for Healthy Hair
- Paying the High Price of Food Waste
- Can Acid Reflux Damage my Esophagus
- Secrets to Breathing Better With Allergies
- Take the Work Out of Workout
- Bounce Back From Spring Break
- Cultivate a Nutrient-Rich Approach to Eating for Life
- What's the Right Amount of Vitamin C
- Treadmill Test Can Reveal Hidden Problems in Heart
- Suffering From Allergies? Tailor Treatment to Your Symptoms
- Researchers Break Through to Unconscious Patients
- Key Factors Related to Heart Attack Risk
- Type 2 Diabetes Increases Risk for Cardiovascular Problems
- Middle-Age Spread and How to Avoid It
- Fiber and Weight Loss: Learn the Secrets
- Treadmill Test Can Reveal Hidden Problems in Heart
- Could Hot Flashes Only Occur at Night?
- Hypochondria: The Impossible Illness
- Get the Lead Out: The Less Exposure to This Toxic Metal the Better
- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sugar
- Omega-3 Rich Diet
- Omega-3 Enriched Eggs an 'Eggs-traordinary' Choice for Heart Health
- Quinoa: Nutritious Mother Grain of the Incas
- 14 Things You Might Not Know About Aspirin
- Cultivate a Healthy Brain Lifestyle As You Age
- Regular Exercise Helps Protect Aging Brains
- Surgeries Can be Combined But May Not be Necessary
- Get the Lead Out: The Less Exposure to This Toxic Metal the Better
- Hypochondria: The Impossible Illness
- Guide to Cold and Allergy Symptoms
- Is Heartburn Surgery the Answer?
- Best Cooking Methods for Heartburn Sufferers
- 14 Things You Might Not Know About Aspirin
Copyright © 2010 U.S. News and World Report. All rights reserved.