Re: Killer cough fears grow - more fear mongering by doctors (comments on web page welcome)

[Guest guest]

<"avoid crowed indoor places">- like a paediatrician's office? ~ Maureen R. Gradvohl ~ From: Meryl Dorey <meryl@...>AVN List <AVN >Sent: Sun, May 22, 2011 12:18:39 AMSubject: Killer cough

fears grow - more fear mongering by doctors (comments on web page welcome)

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Lismore paediatrician Dr Ingall has joined seven local colleagues in publishing an open letter warning parents of the potential dangers to young children of contracting whooping cough because of low vaccination rates on the North Coast. IN AN unprecedented move, eight Northern Rivers paediatricians have prepared an open letter recommending extreme precautions to protect

against a whooping cough epidemic and the lowest vaccination rates in the State. The paediatricians – four from Lismore and four from the Tweed – have advised parents of newbabies to avoid taking them to crowded indoor spaces and avoid contact with people whose vaccinations are not up-to-date. The letter follows the death this month of a 10-week-old Tweed Heads baby from whooping cough and follows the death two years ago of Lennox Head baby Dana McCaffery. Prominent Lismore paediatrician Dr Ingall pointed to NSW Health figures showing vaccination rates on the North Coast well below other parts of the State. Among one, two and five-year-olds, the vaccination rate ran between 5% and 7% below other parts of NSW. Children account for the bulk of whooping cough infections. Those aged between five and nine make up the biggest group, accounting for about 3700 infections between May 1 last year and April 30 this

year. The next highest group was 10- to 14-year-olds, who accounted for about 2100 infections, while the most vulnerable up to age four group accounted for about 2000 infections. Infection rates dropped off rapidly from the age of 15, with infections among the age groups from between 15-24 and 85+ ranging from about 600 to fewer than 100. NSW has had a whooping cough epidemic running since the second half of last year, with infection rates rising close to 1000 last September and then soaring past that figure and staying there until April, when it dropped back to more than 800. The lull before the latest outbreak had only lasted a matter of months, with high infection rates right through 2009 – the year Dana McCaffery died – and the latter half of 2008. The paediatricians' letter urges parents with babies not yet inoculated against whooping cough to make sure anyone touching their infants – including siblings

and other children – to wash their hands first. It tells parents to make sure their baby's face is not exposed when they take them outside and to have other members “cover†their coughs by coughing into their elbow. The earliest a baby can be inoculated against whooping cough is at four months of age. Whooping cough safety tips

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[Guest guest]

LOL, Good one Maureen....

Killer cough fears grow - more fear mongering by doctors (comments on web page welcome)

•

Lismore paediatrician Dr Ingall has joined seven local colleagues in publishing an open letter warning parents of the potential dangers to young children of contracting whooping cough because of low vaccination rates on the North Coast.

IN AN unprecedented move, eight Northern Rivers paediatricians have prepared an open letter recommending extreme precautions to protect against a whooping cough epidemic and the lowest vaccination rates in the State.

The paediatricians – four from Lismore and four from the Tweed – have advised parents of newbabies to avoid taking them to crowded indoor spaces and avoid contact with people whose vaccinations are not up-to-date.

The letter follows the death this month of a 10-week-old Tweed Heads baby from whooping cough and follows the death two years ago of Lennox Head baby Dana McCaffery.

Prominent Lismore paediatrician Dr Ingall pointed to NSW Health figures showing vaccination rates on the North Coast well below other parts of the State.

Among one, two and five-year-olds, the vaccination rate ran between 5% and 7% below other parts of NSW.

Children account for the bulk of whooping cough infections. Those aged between five and nine make up the biggest group, accounting for about 3700 infections between May 1 last year and April 30 this year.

The next highest group was 10- to 14-year-olds, who accounted for about 2100 infections, while the most vulnerable up to age four group accounted for about 2000 infections.

Infection rates dropped off rapidly from the age of 15, with infections among the age groups from between 15-24 and 85+ ranging from about 600 to fewer than 100.

NSW has had a whooping cough epidemic running since the second half of last year, with infection rates rising close to 1000 last September and then soaring past that figure and staying there until April, when it dropped back to more than 800.

The lull before the latest outbreak had only lasted a matter of months, with high infection rates right through 2009 – the year Dana McCaffery died – and the latter half of 2008.

The paediatricians' letter urges parents with babies not yet inoculated against whooping cough to make sure anyone touching their infants – including siblings and other children – to wash their hands first.

It tells parents to make sure their baby's face is not exposed when they take them outside and to have other members “cover†their coughs by coughing into their elbow.

The earliest a baby can be inoculated against whooping cough is at four months of age.

Whooping cough safety tips

References Archive Share Post to Twitter Post to Facebook Email this Article

Original URL: http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2011/05/21/fearful-paediatricians-warn-of-whooping-cough-dang/

« Older Article Diseases return as jab rate drop ...

Readability View original article Favorite Appearance Print Share « Font & Color Newspaper Novel eBook Inverse Athelas

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