Silver Lake Pediatrics believes that proper immunization is essential to the well being of our children. Below you will find basic information on the vaccines we use in our office and on the diseases they help prevent. Our office is committed to quality healthcare and with this in mind will ask parents who do not want to follow the guidelines recommended by the AAP to seek medical care elsewhere. For additional information on immunizations please check out our links page.
Vaccines Used By Our Office
- HPV Protects against human papillomavirus
- RotaTeq Protects against rotavirus
- HepA Protects against hepatitis A
- Hib Protects against Hib
- HepB Protects against hepatitis B
- DTaP Protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.
- IPV Protects against polio
- MCV4 Protects against meningococcal meningitis
- MMR Protects against measles, mumps and rubella
- PCV Protects against pneumococcus
- Tdap Portects against Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis
- Varicella Protects against chicken pox
The Diseases
- Human Papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the U.S. and has been directly linked to cervical cancer and genital warts.
- Rotavirus is one of the most serious causes of severe diarrhea in babies and young children. Almost all children are infected before they are five years old.
- Diphtheria is a bacterial respiratory disease that lives in the mouth, throat and nose and can cause serious complications such as heart failure and paralysis. Sometimes a thick membrane can form in the back of the throat making it very difficult to swallow and causing respiratory distress.
- Pertussis (whooping cough) is a disease that causes violent and repeated coughing often until the child has exhausted all air from their lungs. Pertussis can cause the child to turn blue from lack of oxygen or to cause vomiting from the stress.
- Tetanus (lockjaw) is a bacteria that enters the skin usually through deep puncture wounds. It causes muscle spasms in the legs, arms, stomach, and especially the jaw. These spasms can be severe enough to break bones in young children.
- Polio is a viral disease that can cause pain and stiffness in the back, arms and legs. This disease can lead to paralysis most often of the legs.
- Hepatitis A is a viral disease that causes fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice.
- Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver that can cause liver failure and death. Symptoms can include jaundice, muscle and joint pain and loss of appetite.
- Haemophilus influenza type b, or Hib is another bacterial disease that can lead to meningitis, arthritis, pneumonia, and most commonly inflammation and swelling of the throat.
- Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that often manifests itself as a rash and a cold. 1 out of 20 people who get the disease will get an ear infection and approximately one out of 1000 children that get the disease will get encephalitis which can cause deafness, or mental retardation due to swelling of the brain.
- Mumps is another viral disease. It usually causes swelling of cheeks and jaws but can progress into meningitis or encephalitis.
- Rubella (german measles) is a usually benign illness causing a rash on the face and neck. Rubella is most dangerous if contracted by pregnant women. If contracted early in the pregnancy there is an 80% chance of the child having birth defects.
- Varicella (chickenpox) is still one of the most common childhood diseases usually appearing as an itchy rash all over the body.
- Pneumococcus is a bacteria that can lead to meningitis as well as serious blood infections.
- Meningococcus is a very rapid bacterial disease that also leads to meningitis, pneumonia, and other blood infections. This disease can be quite serious and leave effects such as permanent deafness or loss of limb.
- HPV for boys: HPV vaccine can prevent certain cancers and other diseases in men caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). CDC recommends that you get your boys and girls vaccinated at 11 or 12 to prevent cancers caused by HPV. http://www.cdc.gov/features/HPVVaccineBoys/