Dr. Andrew Wakefield certainly has a lot to answer for due to what now are reported to be false results in his article about autism. Because of this article stating there was a connection between autism and immunizations, thousands of parents have refused to give their children immunizations. If these parents ever saw a child damaged by having mumps or had to care for a child with mumps encephalitis, as I have, they would immediately hurry to their child's doctor and ask for immunizations.
According to the last American Academy of Pediatrics News, "As of January 1,521 cases of mumps had been reported in the U.S. and the number of cases continues to increase." This is a tragedy. The article also stated that 76% of the patients were male. I do not understand how parents could risk a child becoming deaf because of mumps, possibly sterile, have meningitis or encephalitis , pancreatitis, or develop Bell's palsy. Being a parent is a great responsibility and depriving a child of preventative immunizations comes under the heading of child abuse, as far as I am concerned.
I spent many sleepness nights when my patient had mumps encephalitis. Her parents nearly fell apart seeing her comatose and unresponsive, so I not only had the girl to care for, but had to spend considerable time helping the parents cope. These parents were very lucky because slowly the child became conscious and though she may have had long-term effects, she survived the encephalitis. The family moved after a few months, so I don't have a long-term follow-up, but would not be surprised if the girl deverloped some learniing or other problems.
If a doctor or his staff do not check a child's immunization status at every well check-up parents should insist this occurs. With the minimal time given these days to patients at office visits, parents have to be watchful and be sure their children are protected.
Dr. Andrew Wakefield certainly has a lot to answer for due to what now are reported to be false results in his article about autism. Because of this article stating there was a connection between autism and immunizations, thousands of parents have refused to give their children immunizations. If these parents ever saw a child damaged by having mumps or had to care for a child with mumps encephalitis, as I have, they would immediately hurry to their child's doctor and ask for immunizations.
According to the last American Academy of Pediatrics News, "As of January 1,521 cases of mumps had been reported in the U.S. and the number of cases continues to increase." This is a tragedy. The article also stated that 76% of the patients were male. I do not understand how parents could risk a child becoming deaf because of mumps, possibly sterile, have meningitis or encephalitis , pancreatitis, or develop Bell's palsy. Being a parent is a great responsibility and depriving a child of preventative immunizations comes under the heading of child abuse, as far as I am concerned.
I spent many sleepness nights when my patient had mumps encephalitis. Her parents nearly fell apart seeing her comatose and unresponsive, so I not only had the girl to care for, but had to spend considerable time helping the parents cope. These parents were very lucky because slowly the child became conscious and though she may have had long-term effects, she survived the encephalitis. The family moved after a few months, so I don't have a long-term follow-up, but would not be surprised if the girl deverloped some learniing or other problems.
If a doctor or his staff do not check a child's immunization status at every well check-up parents should insist this occurs. With the minimal time given these days to patients at office visits, parents have to be watchful and be sure their children are protected.