Childhood diseases linked to convulsions, neurologic damage and death

"The study focused on children who develop fevers and then go into convulsions — an occurrence that frightens parents but usually has no lingering consequences. There were no deaths in the new study."

Hmmm...so antivaxers are all excited about a finding showing that one type of vaccine is more likely to be a cause of convulsions than another. Do they know the significance of convulsions (starting with the above statement)? This is a common response in very young children who have high fevers.
And what _commonly_ is responsible for high fevers? Infections.

Let's review the consequences of some of these infections, which are prevented by vaccination:

"Haemophilus influenzae type b
(also known as Hib disease)

• More serious in infants under one year of age.
• Causes pneumonia and infections of the blood, joints, bones, soft tissues, throat and covering of the heart.
• Before the vaccine, caused meningitis in about 12,000 children per year; about one in four suffered permanent brain damage; and about one in 20 died.
• Hib Vaccine prevents this disease

Measles
• Highly contagious.
• Causes a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes, lasting from one to two weeks.
• May lead to ear infections and pneumonia.
• May cause encephalitis, which may lead to convulsions, deafness or mental retardation.
• Of every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die.
• MMR Vaccine prevents this disease.

Mumps
• Causes ear infections and pneumonia in one out of every 20 children who get it.
• Causes encephalitis that can lead to convulsions, deafness or mental retardation in one out of every 1,000 children who get it.
• Causes fever, headache and inflammation of the salivary glands, resulting in swelling of cheeks or jaw.
• One out of every 10 who get mumps may develop Meningitis or Encephalitis.
• Can result in permanent loss of hearing.
• MMR Vaccine prevents this disease."

Getting the idea yet about what commonly caused convulsions (or worse) in the days before vaccination? Here's more:

"Pertussis (also known as whooping cough)
• Highly contagious.
• Causes severe spells of coughing which can interfere with eating, drinking and breathing.
• Complications may include pneumonia, convulsions or encephalitis."

Convulsions again.

"• In the United States about 65% of reported cases occur in children under 5, and half of those are infants less than one year old.
• In recent years, an average of 3,500 cases were reported in the United States.
• Can be prevented with DTaP Vaccine."

Polio
• Serious cases cause paralysis and death.
• Mild cases cause fever, sore throat, nausea, headaches, stomach aches, stiffness in the neck, back and legs.
• Can be prevented with the Polio Vaccine.

Rubella (also known as German Measles)
• Most serious in pregnant women; there is an 80% chance that it will cause defects in the unborn child if infection occurs in early pregnancy.
• Symptoms include mild discomfort, slight fever for 24 hours, joint pain, and a rash on the face and neck lasting for two or three days.
• MMR Vaccine prevents this disease.

Tetanus (also known as lockjaw)
• Enters the body through a wound.
• Produces a poison which affects the body's nervous system.
• Symptoms are headache, irritability, stiffness in jaw and neck.
• Causes muscle spasms in jaw, neck, arms, legs and abdomen.
• May require intensive hospital care.
• Three out of every 10 people in the United States who get Tetanus die.
• Can be prevented with DTaP Vaccine (Td for adults).

Varicella (also known as chickenpox)
• Highly contagious.
• Four million cases occur in the United States each year.
• Causes more than 9,000 hospitalizations and up to 100 deaths each year.
• Most cases occur in children under 15 years of age.
• Causes fever, body aches and an itchy rash. The rash first appears as red spots, which quickly become raised bumps and then develop into blisters.
• Newborns and the immunocompromised are at higher risk of complications.
• Can cause painful skin lesions, known as Herpes Zoster or shingles, later in life.
• VAR Vaccine prevents this disease.


http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/imm/immvacc.shtml


Does this tell you anything about the comparative risks of vaccines and the illnesses vaccines prevent?

It should.

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