Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
CDC: Those at risk should get H1N1 vaccine
ATLANTA, Jan. 7 (UPI) --
Public education campaigns should encourage patients at high risk for severe influenza to get vaccinated, U.S. health officials said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Thursday said it is important that medical providers offer early anti-viral therapy for children under age 2 and to patients with underlying risk conditions.
In addition to young children and pregnant women, those at most risk of H1N1 include those with:
-- Asthma.
-- Disorders of the brain, spinal cord, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, stroke, intellectual disability, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury.
-- Chronic lung disease.
-- Heart disease and blood disorders such as sickle cell disease.
-- Diabetes mellitus.
-- Kidney disorders
-- Liver disorders.
-- Weakened immune system due to disease, medication, HIV, AIDS, or cancer.
-- People under age 19 who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.
-- People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Last spring, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found of the first 99 patients hospitalized with H1N1, 59 percent were age 17 or younger and 74 percent had one or more underlying medical condition that increase risk of complications from influenza, putting them at greater risk for developing severe illness. Among hospitalized patients, 48 percent had asthma and some 60 percent of adults and 18 percent of children were obese, the report said.
http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/144605.html
ATLANTA, Jan. 7 (UPI) --
Public education campaigns should encourage patients at high risk for severe influenza to get vaccinated, U.S. health officials said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Thursday said it is important that medical providers offer early anti-viral therapy for children under age 2 and to patients with underlying risk conditions.
In addition to young children and pregnant women, those at most risk of H1N1 include those with:
-- Asthma.
-- Disorders of the brain, spinal cord, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, stroke, intellectual disability, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury.
-- Chronic lung disease.
-- Heart disease and blood disorders such as sickle cell disease.
-- Diabetes mellitus.
-- Kidney disorders
-- Liver disorders.
-- Weakened immune system due to disease, medication, HIV, AIDS, or cancer.
-- People under age 19 who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.
-- People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Last spring, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found of the first 99 patients hospitalized with H1N1, 59 percent were age 17 or younger and 74 percent had one or more underlying medical condition that increase risk of complications from influenza, putting them at greater risk for developing severe illness. Among hospitalized patients, 48 percent had asthma and some 60 percent of adults and 18 percent of children were obese, the report said.
http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/144605.html