Wednesday, April 9 2014 9:45 PM EDT2014-04-10 01:45:09 GMT
A bill banning smoking in shared public spaces is dead in the Bluegrass State. The political outcome leaves Kentucky one of just ten states without a statewide smoking ban and, thanks to the AffordableFull Story >
A bill banning smoking in shared public spaces is dead in the Bluegrass State. The political outcome leaves Kentucky one of just ten states without a statewide smoking ban and, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, is going to hit taxpayers with higher healthcare costs.Full Story >
Thursday, March 27 2014 5:06 AM EDT2014-03-27 09:06:46 GMT
Last month's Quinnipiac University survey proved to be a landslide for supporters of the legalization of medical marijuana. The margin was a whopping eight to one, and yet Ohio lawmakers are nowhere closeFull Story >
Last month's Quinnipiac University survey proved to be a landslide for supporters of the legalization of medical marijuana. The margin was a whopping eight to one, and yet Ohio lawmakers are nowhere close to legalizing marijuana as medicine.Full Story >
Tuesday, March 25 2014 8:59 PM EDT2014-03-26 00:59:37 GMT
I cannot think of a better time to do a Reality Check on global warming than immediately after that headline-grabbing polar vortex that propelled the coldest air in nearly twenty years right here intoFull Story >
I cannot think of a better time to do a Reality Check on global warming than immediately after that headline-grabbing polar vortex that propelled the coldest air in nearly twenty years right here into the tri-state.Full Story >
Wednesday, March 19 2014 9:28 PM EDT2014-03-20 01:28:22 GMT
According to polls taken by CNN, Gallup, and The Washington Post, the Tea Party's favorability rating is on the decline. In fact, for the first time ever a majority of Americans have an unfavorable viewFull Story >
According to polls taken by CNN, Gallup, and The Washington Post, the Tea Party's favorability rating is on the decline. FOX19's Scott Schneider asked Matt Bevin, Tea Party Candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky, why the shutdown was so damaging.Full Story >
Wednesday, March 12 2014 9:14 PM EDT2014-03-13 01:14:27 GMT
Nineteen days and counting. That's how long uninsured Americans have to take advantage of the ACA open enrollment period and avoid the penalty, which is essentially a tax bill. Jackson Hewitt, the nation'sFull Story >
Nineteen days and counting - that's how long uninsured Americans have to take advantage of the ACA open enrollment period and avoid the penalty, which is essentially a tax bill.Full Story >
We have record or near record low levels of vaccine preventable childhood diseases in the United States, but that does not mean these have disappeared. Many of the viruses and bacteria are still circulating in this country or are only a plane ride away. That’s why it’s important that children, especially infants and young children, receive recommended immunizations on time. In our mobile society, over a million people each day people travel to and from other countries, including countries where many vaccine preventable diseases remain relatively common. Without vaccines, epidemics of many preventable diseases could return, resulting in increased– and unnecessary– illness, disability, and death among children.
The following vaccine-preventable diseases, not long ago, disabled and killed millions of American children. Thanks to our country’s high childhood immunization coverage levels, these diseases are now very uncommon.
Diphtheria
Description
A respiratory disease caused by bacteria
Symptoms
Gradual onset of a sore throat and low-grade fever
Complications
Airway obstruction, coma, and death if not treated
Transmission
Spread by coughing and sneezing
Vaccine
Diphtheria toxoid(contained in DTP, DTaP, DT or Td vaccines) can prevent this disease.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Description
A severe bacterial infection, occurring primarily in infants
Symptoms
Skin and throat infections, meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis, and arthritis
(Can be serious in children under age 1, but there is little risk of getting the disease after age 5)
Complications
Hib meningitis (death in one out of 20 children, and permanent brain damage in 10% - 30% of the survivors)
Transmission
Spread by coughing and sneezing
Vaccine
Hib vaccine can prevent this disease.
Hepatitis A
Description
A disease of the liver caused by hepatitis A virus
Symptoms
Potentially none (likelihood of symptoms increases with the person's age)
If present: yellow skin or eyes, tiredness, stomach ache, loss of appetite, or nausea
Complications
Because young children might not have symptoms, the disease is often not recognized until the child's caregiver becomes ill with hepatitis A.
Transmission
Most often: spread by the fecal-oral route (An object contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A is put into another person's mouth.)
Less often: spread by swallowing food or water that contains the virus
Vaccine
Hepatitis A vaccine will prevent this disease.
Hepatitis B
Description
A disease of the liver caused by hepatitis B virus
Symptoms
Potentially none when first infected (likelihood of early symptoms increases with the person's age)
If present: yellow skin or eyes, tiredness, stomach ache, loss of appetite, nausea, or joint pain
Complications
The younger the person, the greater the likelihood of staying infected and having life-long liver problems, such as scarring of the liver and liver cancer
Transmission
Spread through contact with the blood of an infected person or by having sex with an infected person
Vaccine
Hepatitis B vaccine is will prevent this disease.
Measles
Description
A respiratory disease caused by a virus
Symptoms
Measles virus causes rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, lasting about a week.
Complications
Diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures, and death
Transmission
Spread by coughing and sneezing (highly contagious)
Vaccine
Measles vaccine (contained in MMR, MR and measles vaccines) can prevent this disease.
Mumps
Description
A disease of the lymph nodes caused by a virus
Symptoms
Fever, headache, muscle ache, and swelling of the lymph nodes close to the jaw
Complications
Meningitis, inflammation of the testicles or ovaries, inflammation of the pancreas and deafness (usually permanent)
Transmission
Spread by coughing and sneezing
Vaccine
Mumps vaccine (contained in MMR) can prevent this disease.
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Description
A respiratory disease caused by bacteria
Symptoms
Severe spasms of coughing that can interfere with eating, drinking, and breathing
Complications
Pneumonia, encephalitis (due to lack of oxygen), and death, especially in infants.
Transmission
Spread by coughing and sneezing (highly contagious)
Vaccine
Pertussis vaccine (contained in DTP and DTaP) can prevent this disease.
Polio
Description
A disease of the lymphatic and nervous systems
Symptoms
Fever, sore throat, nausea, headaches, stomach aches, and stiffness in the neck, back, and legs
Complications
Paralysis that can lead to permanent disability and death
Transmission
Contact with an infected person
Vaccine
Polio vaccine (IPV) can prevent this disease.
Rubella (German measles)
Description
A respiratory disease caused by a virus
Symptoms
Rash and fever for two to three days ( mild disease in children and young adults)
Complications
Birth defects if acquired by a pregnant woman: deafness, cataracts, heart defects, mental retardation, and liver and spleen damage (at least a 20% chance of damage to the fetus if a woman is infected early in pregnancy)
Transmission
Spread by coughing and sneezing
Vaccine
Rubella vaccine (contained in MMR vaccine) can prevent this disease.
Tetanus (lockjaw)
Description
A disease of the nervous system caused by a bacteria
Symptoms
Early symptoms: lockjaw, stiffness in the neck and abdomen, and difficulty swallowingLater symptoms: fever, elevated blood pressure, and severe muscle spasms
Complications
Death in one third of the cases, especially people over age 50
Transmission
Enters the body through a break in the skin
Vaccine
Tetanus toxoid (contained in DTP, DT, DTaP & Td vaccines) can prevent this disease.
Varicella (chickenpox)
Description
A virus of the herpes family
Symptoms
A skin rash of blister-like lesions, usually on the face, scalp, or trunk
Complications
Bacterial infection of the skin, swelling of the brain, and pneumonia (usually more severe in children 13 or older and adults)
Transmission
Spread by coughing and sneezing (highly contagious)
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