HEALTH AWARENESS |
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Survey Shows Majority Of African-American Parents Unaware Their Children Are At Risk For Meningitis Parents Urged To Vaccinate Their Preteens And Teens Against Potentially Deadly Disease (NAPSM)-A recent national survey among parents of children ages 11 to 21 conducted by GfK Roper on behalf of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) finds that while nearly all African-American parents have heard of meningococcal disease, or meningitis, nearly 70 percent do not realize their children are at risk for the disease.* NFID is urging African-American parents to learn about the dangers of meningococcal disease and have their children vaccinated. Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection. Within hours, this infection can lead to death or permanent disability, such as hearing loss, brain damage or loss of arms and legs. Preteens and teens are at increased risk for the disease, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the estimated 1,400 to 2,800 cases that occur in the U.S. each year. Given this increased risk, physicians recommend meningococcal vaccination for all preteens 11 through 12 and teens 13 through 18 years of age as well as for all college freshmen living in dormitories. Despite this recommendation, only 28 percent of African-American parents indicated their children have been vaccinated against meningococcal disease. In fact, less than half (42 percent) of parents knew there is a vaccine available to help prevent the disease. The good news is, once parents are made aware of the dangers of meningococcal disease and the availability of the vaccine, the majority (66 percent) said they will have their child vaccinated. "The low level of awareness of the dangers of meningococcal disease among the African-American community is troubling because children are unintentionally being left unprotected against this devastating disease," said Susan J. Rehm, M.D., NFID Medical Director and Vice Chair of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Cleveland Clinic. "The majority of cases among preteens and teens are potentially vaccine-preventable, so we encourage parents to take action and talk to their child's health care provider about meningococcal vaccination." Meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose because early symptoms often resemble the flu. Symptoms may include high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion and sometimes purple spots on the lower legs, feet, arms and hands. The disease is spread through air droplets and direct contact with those who are infected, such as through coughing or kissing. "Lifestyle factors, such as prolonged close contact with large groups of other adolescents in situations such as classrooms and extracurricular activities are thought to put preteens and teens at increased risk for the disease," said Donna Mazyck RN, president of the National Association of School Nurses which is a member of NFID's S.T.O.P. Meningitis! coalition, dedicated to educating families and health care providers about meningococcal vaccination. "The best way for parents to help protect their children is to have them vaccinated." While babies are routinely vaccinated against certain types of bacterial meningitis, this does not include meningococcal disease. Preteens and teens ages 11 through 18 should be vaccinated against meningococcal disease. The meningococcal vaccine can be obtained by calling your health care provider or public health department. For more information about meningococcal disease and vaccination, visit www.nfid.org. * Survey results include mention of "meningococcal disease" or "meningitis." |
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