Gonorrhoea Symptoms

Gonorrhoea is an STI that can cause swelling, discharge and discomfort – normally around the genitalia but also sometimes in other areas. Known also as ‘the clap’ this is caused by the bacterium ‘Neisseria Gonorrhoea’ and is relatively common – second only to Chlamydia out of all the STIs. If left untreated, Gonorrhoea can spread through the body and is then likely to cause other more serious problems – infecting the joints and even later the heart valves. Fortunately in most cases Gonorrhoea is relatively easy to treat with antibiotics and will not require a follow up appointment (though it is a good idea to get a follow up anyway). However, in order to get this treatment you first need to identify the existence of the condition. Here we will look at some of the symptoms of Gonorrhoea that can alert you to the problem.
Gonorrhoea is a highly unpleasant condition that has several unpleasant side effects. If you are unsure as to whether you might be experiencing Gonorrhoea then check to see if you are exhibiting any of the symptoms. Bear in mind however that symptoms are different in men than they are in women and that in some cases the symptoms won’t occur until months after the infection has occurred, or until it has spread to other parts of the body. At the same time roughly 10% of infected men and half of the infected women will show no symptoms whatsoever. This can make diagnosing Gonorrhoea very difficult. However, still in the vast majority of scenarios, those who have Gonorrhoea will exhibit the following symptoms:
Men

• Unusual discharge from the tip of the penis which can be white, yellow or green in colour.
• Pain or burning when they urinate.
• Inflammation on the foreskin of the penis.
• Pain or general tenderness around the testicles/prostate.

Women

• Unusual thick discharge from vagina which can be yellow or green in colour usually like phlegm.
• Pain when urinating.
• Pain in the lower stomach.
• Bleeding in between periods and/or suffering heavier and more painful periods than normal.

Also adding complication to identifying Gonorrhoea is the fact that it can infect other areas of the body. Thus it is possible to experience entirely different symptoms and it still be Gonorrhoea. For example, an infection in the rectum may have similar symptoms – pain, itching and discharge, but in the ans. Infection in the throat meanwhile does not normally have any symptoms at all, while infection in the eyes can cause conjunctivitis (discharge), swelling and pain/discomfort.
n some cases Gonorrhoea can also be passed from mother to baby and this will normally be seen as red painful swelling in the eyes and with conjunctivitis.

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LOO-PUS

What Is Lupus?
Lupus (pronounced: loo-pus) is a disease that involves the immune system and affects about 1.5 million Americans; nearly 90% of those diagnosed with the disease are female. Normally, a person's immune system works by producing immunity cells and antibodies, special substances that fight germs and infections. But when a person has lupus, the immune system goes into overdrive and can't tell the difference between some of the body's normal, healthy cells and germs that can cause infection. So the immune system responds by making autoantibodies that attack the body's normal cells.
The three types of lupus are:
1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (pronounced: er-uh-thee-muh-toe-sus)
Also called SLE, this is the type of lupus that most people mean when they talk about the disease. It was given its name by a 19th century French doctor who thought that the facial rash of some people with lupus looked like the bite or scratch of a wolf ("lupus" is Latin for wolf and "erythematosus" is Latin for red). SLE is the most serious form of lupus. Like Chantelle, about 15% of the people who have SLE first start to feel sick when they are teens. SLE can affect the skin, joints, and tendons. It may also affect organs like the brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys.

2. Cutaneous (or skin) Lupus
This type of lupus is a skin disease that causes a rash on the face, neck, scalp, and ears. There are two types of cutaneous lupus: discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), which can cause scarring; and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), which doesn't cause scars. Discoid lupus is a much more rare form of lupus than SLE, although about 10% of people with discoid lupus will develop a mild form of SLE. It doesn't affect other body organs the way that SLE can.

3. Drug-Induced Lupus
This type of lupus is caused by a reaction to certain kinds of medicines. For example, some types of antiseizure medicines and acne medicines can cause this kind of lupus in teens. Drug-induced lupus is similar to SLE in the ways it affects the body, but once a person stops taking the medicine, the symptoms usually go away.

What Causes Lupus?
No one really knows what causes lupus. Researchers think that some people may be more likely to get it due to things that are out of their control, like:

• gender: Many more women get lupus than men; for every 1 man with lupus, there are 10 women who have it.
• estrogen: This female hormone may be a factor in lupus — almost all women who get lupus are of childbearing age.
• race/ethnicity: Lupus occurs more often in African-American, Asian-American, Latin-American, and Native-American women than in non-Hispanic Caucasian women.
• family history/genetics: About 10% of people with lupus have a family member with lupus.
• major stress or infection: If people have the genetic tendency to get lupus, extreme stress or an infection may trigger the disease — but the blueprint for lupus has to already be there. One thing researchers know about lupus is that it is not contagious. You can't catch any of the three types of lupus from another person. And although lupus involves the immune system, it is not the same as other diseases that involve the immune system, like AIDS.

Symptoms of Lupus and How It Is Diagnosed
Lupus can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms can vary from one person to the next. The symptoms can also make lupus look like certain other diseases. For example, like Chantelle, people with lupus may feel weak and fatigued. They may have muscle aches, loss of appetite, swollen glands, and hair loss. Sometimes they have abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. The doctor may perform certain blood tests when lupus is suspected and will probably send the person to a rheumatologist (pronounced: roo-muh-tol-uh-jist). Rheumatologists are doctors who have special training in diagnosing and treating autoimmune diseases like lupus. Because signs and symptoms of SLE can be so varied, a rheumatologist will look for 11 specific signs:

• malar rash: A malar (pronounced: may-lur) rash appears across the nose and cheeks in the shape of a butterfly.
• discoid rash: This rash features round, red, scaly patches that can appear on the face, arms, scalp, or ears.
• photosensitivity: This means sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, like the ones that come from the sun or from fluorescent lights. Most people with SLE are photosensitive and find that the sun worsens their lupus.
• ulcers in the nose or mouth: These usually don't hurt and many people with SLE don't even know they are there.
• arthritis: This makes joints hurt, especially in hands and feet. Unlike the kind of arthritis that older people sometimes get, this arthritis doesn't damage the bones. Most people with SLE have some degree of arthritis.
• serositis (pronounced: sir-o-syte-us): This is the collection of fluid near the linings covering the heart, lungs, or abdomen.
• kidney problems: These can be mild or severe. Most people with SLE will have kidney problems, but only about half of them will have permanent kidney damage.
• neurologic problems: This refers to problems with the brain and nervous system, like seizures.
• blood problems: SLE can cause a lower than normal number of red blood cells (anemia), white blood cells, or platelets.
• immune system problems: Blood tests may show that the immune system isn't functioning properly.
• positive ANA test: This is a blood test that shows a certain type of antibody. About 95% of people with SLE have a positive ANA test.

Treating Lupus
The type of treatment someone gets often depends on how severe the lupus is and which body systems are affected. Almost all people with SLE take some kind of medicine to help control their lupus. Patients whose joints hurt often take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) to help with the pain. Others take antimalarial drugs (medicines first developed to prevent and treat malaria, but that have also been found to help treat lupus). Antimalarial drugs often help treat skin rashes and joint pain. Some rheumatologists prescribe anti-inflammatory steroids, medicines that help fight the fatigue and fever that can affect people with SLE. People with lupus that affects important body organs may be given other immunosuppressive drugs. These drugs help stop the immune system from producing the autoantibodies that destroy healthy cells. These drugs are very strong, though, and can have side effects. So they are used only when it's really necessary.

Living With Lupus
In addition to taking medicine, a big part of treating lupus may involve lifestyle changes. For a lot of people with lupus, paying close attention to certain health habits can help prevent their symptoms from flaring up. Getting enough rest and avoiding becoming too busy or overly stressed are helpful. Eating well and exercising regularly can also help a person avoid a flare. People with lupus can learn to manage the disease to minimize its impact on their lives. Some teens work with a health care team, getting help from a rheumatologist, a nephrologist (a doctor who specializes in kidney problems), a nurse practitioner, and a social worker. Because lupus can differ from one person to another, the team will create a special treatment plan based on the person's individual needs. Part of managing lupus is controlling the symptoms and preventing flares. A flare is a period of time when the disease gets worse. During a flare, a person feels much more tired, sick, feverish, and achy than usual, and it can also harm important body organs. When it comes to staying healthy, sometimes the things a person with lupus doesn't do can be just as important as those they do. Rheumatologists recommend that people with lupus don't spend time in the sun unless they wear lots of sunscreen and protective clothing because ultraviolet rays can bring on a flare. Smoking, drinking, and drugs are also a bad idea for teens with lupus. Alcohol can throw off the balance of certain medications, a dangerous situation for someone with lupus. Tattooing and body piercing are also off limits because of an increased risk of infection. Infection can be a risk because some of the medications doctors prescribe for lupus suppress the immune system and don't allow the body to fight infections as it usually would. Doctors also advise that teen girls with lupus stay away from birth control pills containing the hormone estrogen; researchers believe that the extra estrogen in the pills can make symptoms worse. Doctors suggest that teens who are sexually active use other types of contraception instead.

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Posted in: types of illnesses

10 Benefits of Sex

When you're in the mood, it's a sure bet that the last thing on your mind is boosting your immune system or maintaining a healthy weight. Yet good sex offers those health benefits and more. That's a surprise to many people, says Joy Davidson, PhD, a New York psychologist and sex therapist. "Of course, sex is everywhere in the media," she says. "But the idea that we are vital, sexual creatures is still looked at in some cases with disgust or in other cases a bit of embarrassment. So to really take a look at how our sexuality adds to our life and enhances our life and our health, both physical and psychological, is eye-opening for many people. "Sex does a body good in a number of ways, according to Davidson and other experts. The benefits aren't just anecdotal or hearsay -- each of these 10 health benefits of sex is backed by scientific scrutiny.

1. Sex Relieves Stress
A big health benefit of sex is lower blood pressure and overall stress reduction, according to researchers from Scotland who reported their findings in the journal Biological Psychology. They studied 24 women and 22 men who kept records of their sexual activity. Then the researchers subjected them to stressful situations -- such as speaking in public and doing verbal arithmetic -- and noted their blood pressure response to stress. Those who had intercourse had better responses to stress than those who engaged in other sexual behaviors or abstained. Another study published in the same journal found that frequent intercourse was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure in cohabiting participants. Yet other research found a link between partner hugs and lower blood pressure in women.

2. Sex Boosts Immunity
Good sexual health may mean better physical health. Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A or IgA, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections. Scientists at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., took samples of saliva, which contain IgA, from 112 college students who reported the frequency of sex they had. Those in the "frequent" group -- once or twice a week -- had higher levels of IgA than those in the other three groups -- who reported being abstinent, having sex less than once a week, or having it very often, three or more times weekly.

3. Sex Burns Calories
Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: 42 half-hour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound. Doubling up, you could drop that pound in 21 hour-long sessions. "Sex is a great mode of exercise," says Patti Britton, PhD, a Los Angeles sexologist and president of the American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists. It takes work, from both a physical and psychological perspective, to do it well, she says.

4. Sex Improves Cardiovascular Health
While some older folks may worry that the efforts expended during sex could cause a stroke, that's not so, according to researchers from England. In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, scientists found that the frequency of sex was not associated with stroke in the 914 men they followed for 20 years. And the heart health benefits of sex don't end there. The researchers also found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half for the men, compared with those who had sex less than once a month.

5. Sex Boosts Self-Esteem
Boosting self-esteem was one of 237 reasons people have sex, collected by University of Texas researchers and published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. That finding makes sense to Gina Ogden, PhD, a sex therapist and marriage and family therapist in Cambridge, Mass., although she finds that those who already have self-esteem say they sometimes have sex to feel even better. "One of the reasons people say they have sex is to feel good about themselves," she tells WebMD. "Great sex begins with self-esteem, and it raises it. If the sex is loving, connected, and what you want, it raises it."

6. Sex Improves Intimacy
Having sex and orgasms increases levels of the hormone oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which helps us bond and build trust. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina evaluated 59 premenopausal women before and after warm contact with their husbands and partners ending with hugs. They found that the more contact, the higher the oxytocin levels. "Oxytocin allows us to feel the urge to nurture and to bond," Britton says. Higher oxytocin has also been linked with a feeling of generosity. So if you're feeling suddenly more generous toward your partner than usual, credit the love hormone.

7. Sex Reduces Pain
As the hormone oxytocin surges, endorphins increase, and pain declines. So if your headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms seem to improve after sex, you can thank those higher oxytocin levels. In a study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 48 volunteers who inhaled oxytocin vapor and then had their fingers pricked lowered their pain threshold by more than half.

8. Sex Reduces Prostate Cancer Risk
Frequent ejaculations, especially in 20-something men, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer later in life, Australian researchers reported in the British Journal of Urology International. When they followed men diagnosed with prostate cancer and those without, they found no association of prostate cancer with the number of sexual partners as the men reached their 30s, 40s, and 50s. But they found men who had five or more ejaculations weekly while in their 20s reduced their risk of getting prostate cancer later by a third. Another study, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that frequent ejaculations, 21 or more a month, were linked to lower prostate cancer risk in older men, as well, compared with less frequent ejaculations of four to seven monthly.

9. Sex Strengthens Pelvic Floor Muscles
For women, doing a few pelvic floor muscle exercises known as Kegel exercises during sex offers a couple of benefits. You will enjoy more pleasure, and you'll also strengthen the area and help to minimize the risk of incontinence later in life. To do a basic Kegel exercise, tighten the muscles of your pelvic floor, as if you're trying to stop the flow of urine. Count to three, then release.

10. Sex Helps You Sleep Better
The oxytocin released during orgasm also promotes sleep, according to research. And getting enough sleep has been linked with a host of other good things, such as maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure. Something to think about, especially if you've been wondering why your guy can be active one minute and snoring the next.

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Posted in: healthies

HERNIA

In Latin the word Hernia means "a rupture". When tissue protrudes through a structure, or a part of an organ through the muscle tissue or the membrane, that is a hernia. There are three parts to a hernia - the orifice, the hernia sac, and the hernia's contents. The most common place for hernias to occur in humans is the abdomen. A part of the abdominal wall is weak and allows a localized hole to develop - this hole is also known as a defect. Tissue, or abdominal organs may stick out through this hole. A hernia that involves the spinal discs commonly causes sciatica (pain in the lower back, the pain can radiate down one or both legs). Not all hernias are painful. It is possible for somebody to have a hernia and feel nothing. In general, a patient with a hernia will feel pain, and often feel a lump in the affected area. Fatty tissue will usually jut through first, then an organ may protrude later. In most cases a hernia will occur when the compartment which envelopes an organ receives increased pressure, this weakens the boundary. This may happen for several reasons, including:

• Genetic propensity - if either or both of your parents had a hernia you are more likely to develop one.
• Age - the older you are the higher is your risk of developing a hernia.
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - a group of uncommon genetic disorders that affect humans and domestic animals caused by a defect in collagen synthesis.
• Marfan syndrome - a is genetic disorder of the connective tissue.
• Pregnancy - the muscles of the mother stretch, making it easier for tissue to poke through.
• Drastic weight loss - when obese people lose weight they may be more prone to developing hernias.
• COPD, Whooping cough - the patient may cough a lot. Coughing raises pressure in the abdomen. Any illness that includes severe coughing can cause hernias to occur. A severe bout of flu may sometimes cause a hernia to develop.
• Ascites - the buildup of extra fluid in the abdomen (peritoneal cavity).
• Benign prostatic hypertrophy - the prostate gland enlarges, increasing pressure around it.
• Intracranial pressure - if intracranial pressure rises parts of the brain may develop hernias which protrude through the cranial cavity.
• Excessive lifting - raises pressure on the abdomen and others parts of the body.
• Prior surgery - some surgeries may result in the weakening of membranes.
• Obesity - if a person is obese his chances of developing a hernia are significantly higher, compared to people who are not obese.

What types of hernias are there?
There are many types of hernias. Below is a list of some of the most common hernias:

• Abdominal Hernia - an abdominal organ or fatty tissue juts through a weakened area of the abdominal wall, resulting in a protrusion
• Anal Hernia - tissue protrudes through the membrane around the anal region.
• Diaphragmatic Hernia - hernia resulting from the protrusion of part of the stomach through the diaphragm - a hole in the diaphragm which the bowel can pass through, also known as congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
• Hiatal Hernia - forms at the opening in the diaphragm where the esophagus (food pipe) joins the stomach. A part of the stomach pushes through this opening.
• Herniatied Disc - the cushion that lies between the spinal vertebra is squeezed outside its normal position. As the spinal disc loses its elasticity, it may rupture - rupturing may cause a portion of the spinal disc to push outside its normal boundary - resulting in a herniated disc
• Intracranial Hernia (in the brain) - caused by extreme intracranial pressure. This is a protrusion of brain from the cranial vault through the foramina (tentorial notch or foramen magnum) or ventral dural septae. The patient may need immediate medical attention as intracranial hernias might be life-threatening, especially if the hernia takes place in the brain stem region. Usually caused by brain edema or hemorrhage which results in increased intracranial pressure.
• Pelvic Hernia, Inguinal Hernia - an interstitial hernia (happens in the small opening between tissues or parts of an organ) projecting into the pelvis from the internal inguinal ring. The inguinal ring is at the entrance to the inguinal canal. The inguinal canal is an oblique canal through the lower abdominal wall; in males it is the passage through which the testicles move down into the scrotum, it contains the spermatic cord; in females it transmits around the ligament of the uterus.
• Femoral Hernias - more common among females. Occurs when part of the intestine protrudes through the femoral canal, it juts through at the top of the thigh. Blood vessels that supply the legs with blood go through the femoral canal.
• Umbilical Hernia - more common among children. The abdominal wall is weakened where the umbilical cord enters/leaves the body (the belly button, the naval). Umbilical hernias can also be found in puppies.
• Epigastric Hernia - occurs between the naval and the breastbone. Fat protrudes through the abdominal wall.
• Ventral Hernia - most commonly after a surgical operation or trauma (e.g. car accident or bad fall). When tissue is scarred it weakens the abdominal wall, leading to hernia.
• Obtuator Hernia - bits of intestine penetrates through the space between bones in the front part of the pelvis.

Treatment for hernia
Your GP may initially try to push the hernia back, if he/she thinks it is possible. In many cases surgery is required to repair a hernia. During the operation the surgeon will put the protrusion back. If the protrusion is through the abdominal wall, for example, a synthetic mesh may be fixed to the muscles to strengthen the area.Surgery can be either open surgery, where a large incision is made, or keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery, where only a tiny incision is made, using a specially designed camera and instruments to carry out the operation.Advantages and disadvantages of open surgery and laparoscopic surgery. Both open surgery and keyhole surgeries have their own advantages and disadvantages. Although open surgery involves a longer recovery time and more post-operative pain, it can be done with a local anesthetic. A patient who undergoes keyhole surgery will recover faster and experience less pain. However, keyhole surgery requires a general anesthetic. Elderly patients, or those with bad health may be too weak to undergo a general anesthetic.
Gastrointestinal experts say that despite faster recovery time and less pain after the operation, laparoscopic surgery carries a higher risk of damage to the bowel. A European study found that laparoscopic hernia surgery has a 5 in 1000 risk of serious complications, compared to 1 in 1000 with open hernia surgery (NHS Choices, UK) . In the UK approximately 2% of hernia surgery patients will require further surgery later on. The 2% risk is the same for both types of surgery (NHS Choices, UK). If you have to wait a long time for your surgery your doctor may recommend you wear a truss till the day of your operation. Trusses keep many hernias in place.

Prevention of hernias
In many cases, hernias are due to age and your genetic propensity. There is not much you can do about that. However, there are some factors which can raise your risks of developing a hernia. Heavy lifting - heavy lifting is known to cause hernias. Try to avoid heavy lifting. If you can't, learn how to position yourself for lifting. According to www.bodybuilding.com, if you are weight training you should use an appropriate amount of weight relative to your strength. You should make sure you are warmed up before lifting any weights. Make sure you bend at the knees when lifting a weight - do not bend at the waist as this will cause excessive pressure. If you are lifting a heavy object in the gym (or anywhere) take a squatting position, keep your back straight and as vertical as you can. Make sure your bodyweight is centered over your feet when you start your lift. Frequent abdominal training will strengthen those areas most susceptible to hernias. Smoking and coughing - coughing, especially persistent coughing can cause a hernia to develop. Anything you can do to reduce or eliminate your cough will help enormously. If you smoke, try to give up, or at least cut down. Quitting smoking will prevent several other serious diseases. Studies indicate that your chances of succeeding in giving up smoking are significantly greater if you seek help from your GP (primary care physician) and join a support group. Nutrition - a diet that is high in fiber will help your bowel movements. Constipation, especially if the person is often constipated, greatly increases hernia risk. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and wholegrains. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Obesity - being overweight can increase your risk of developing a hernia considerably. The more overweight you are, the higher your risk. Try to lose weight. Make sure, if you are obese, that you lose weight gradually. It is always advisable to seek professional help before you embark on any exercise program. Ask your doctor for advice on diet and exercise.

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Posted in: types of illnesses

Meningitis C

What is meningitis?
The very mention of meningitis strikes fear into the heart of most parents in the UK. Such fears are understandable because meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord and can be a very serious illness. Although most people recover from the disease, some are left deaf or blind, and in others it may prove fatal. One of the biggest problems with meningitis is that it can develop very quickly. A child (or adult) can seem perfectly well and then, just a few hours later, be extremely ill with the disease. Another problem is that the symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from other, less serious infections.

What are the symptoms of meningitis?
In babies and young children it can cause fever, vomiting, refusal to feed, a high-pitched or moaning cry and irritability. Older children and adults may experience a severe headache, stiff neck and aversion to bright lights as well as fever and vomiting. Eventually, the person may become drowsy or unconscious. If septicaemia (blood poisoning) is also present a rash may develop that starts off looking like tiny red pin pricks. Later, the rash changes to purplish red blotches. If you press on the rash with a glass tumbler, the spots will not fade. Babies may develop a tense or bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on the top of the baby's head), blotchy or pale skin, rapid breathing, a floppy body or stiffness with jerky movements. Older children and adults with septicaemia may complain of cold hands and feet, aching muscles and joints, and stomach pain (sometimes with diarrhoea).

What causes meningitis?
A number of different viruses and bacteria can cause meningitis. Children in the UK are already offered vaccination against one of them, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B), but meningococcal group B and C are two types of bacteria that cause a large number of cases of meningitis in Britain. Group B is the most common, but group C causes more deaths. In recent times, there have been about 1500 cases of group C meningitis and septicaemia reported in the UK each year, some of which have been fatal. Unfortunately, there is no safe and effective vaccine against group B, but group C vaccine became available in the UK in November 1999, following which a marked drop in meningitis C infections occurred.

The new vaccine against meningitis C
The vaccine is made from a small part of the meningococcal bacteria. It stimulates the body's immune system to produce antibodies that act as a defence against group C meningococcal disease. If an immunised person comes into contact with the real bacteria, the antibodies will prevent their body from becoming infected with the group C bacteria and will protect the person from developing meningitis C or septicaemia. The new vaccine does not prevent infection with other viruses or bacteria, including group B meningococcus.

How safe and effective is the new vaccine?
Meningitis C vaccines (Meningitec, NeisVac-C) are produced in a very similar way to the Hib vaccine, which has been used routinely in babies in the UK since 1992, and has proved very safe and effective. Hib meningitis has nearly been wiped out in this country since the vaccine was introduced. No serious side effects of meningitis C have been identified. As the vaccine is not 'live', it cannot give anyone meningitis or septicaemia.

What reactions might be seen after vaccination?
Babies and toddlers may become a little irritable after their immunisation and up to 1 in 20 may develop a mild fever. A few may get redness or swelling around the injection site, but this usually lasts only a few days at most. In older children, fever is less common, but about a quarter will develop redness or swelling where the injection is given. About 1 in 100 will have a very sore arm for a day or so, and about 1 in 10 may complain of a headache after the immunisation. Is there anyone who should not have the meningitis C vaccine? There are only a few medical reasons why the vaccine should not be given:
a high temperature on the day of the immunisation.
a severe allergic reaction to a previous immunisation.
pregnancy.

Who should get meningitis C vaccine?
The national immunisation programme for meningitis C began in the autumn of 1999. Babies and young people aged 15 to 17 were the first to be offered the vaccine because they are at the greatest risk of developing meningococcal C infections.
Babies are given the meningitis C vaccine when they have their other immunisations at two, three and four months of age. Extension of vaccination to people aged 20-24 was notified by the chief medical officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, in January 2002. This is to be offered to all those who were not immunised against meningitis C and for those received the older 'polysaccharide' meningitis vaccine more than three years previously (your GP will be able to tell from your records what vaccinations you have had if you are unsure). All people with an absent or underactive spleen should also receive meningitis C vaccine (such people should also receive pneumococcal vaccine).

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Posted in: types of illnesses