UK: Fears as child chest infections rocket: pneumococcal vaccinations receive a priori Not Guilty

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Fears as child chest infections rocket

By Iain on

http://www.dcthomson.co.uk/mags/post/news2.htm

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_THE number of Scots children rushed to hospital with pneumonia has

rocketed by more than 50 per cent in three years.

This coincides with the introduction of a new vaccination against the

condition in 2006.

While a child health expert insists there's no connection between the

two, the ish Government has ordered an urgent investigation after

we presented the findings to them.

Newly released NHS Scotland data shows 2454 children were hospitalised

for pneumonia in 2006/07 --- compared with 1620 in 2003/04.

Under-fours

The problem is especially pronounced in infants, with 65 per cent of

emergency hospital admissions for the condition involving under-fours.

Statistics also reveal the number of under-15s dying from all

respiratory illnesses has climbed from seven in 2004 to 12 in 2006 --- a

rise of 71 per cent.

Last night, Dr Simpson, Labour's shadow minister for public

health, described the figures as " worrying " .

He said, " In 2006 a vaccine against the pneumococcal infection was

introduced into the childhood immunisation schedule and the uptake has

been very high.

" This will go some way to reducing the numbers of children from future

generations who are admitted to hospital with pneumonia.

" But it may be necessary to consider a catch-up programme for older

children, an appropriate course of action if there were serious concerns

about an epidemic. "

No link

Dr Spencer, a consultant respiratory paediatrician in Newcastle,

insists the rise in hospital admissions is not linked to the UK-wide

introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine.

But he said it might be down to an increase in the number of children

being struck down with more complicated strains of the illness.

" The pneumococcal vaccine has had a dramatic beneficial effect in

reducing hospital admissions, " he added.

" The vaccine protects against seven common pneumonia strains and has

been very successful in reducing cases among children.

" It was introduced into the US around seven years ago and was

responsible for about a 40 per cent decrease in admissions for pneumonia

in infants and young children, so it's a very good thing.

" But the vaccine doesn't presently cover serotype one, which infects the

lining of the lungs and can cause a great deal of pain.

" Years ago, serotype one was not common in the UK, but over the last 15

years we've seen an increase in the number of cases of the strain.

" Last year we saw 70 cases of serotype one at our Newcastle centre

alone. This rise may explain the increase in hospital admissions in

Scotland. "

Concern

Despite this, Dr Spencer admitted the introduction of the vaccine could

potentially lead to increases in cases involving serotype one.

" The pneumonia bug lives in peace with us for most of the time, but it

does not like a vacuum, " he explained.

" If you take away one of the types of serotype by vaccination then

another may then take its place.

" I contacted the Health Protection Agency 18 months ago and expressed

concern there was a potential for the vaccine to make things worse.

" A new version of this vaccine, which will probably be introduced in

about two years, will address this. "

A recent study by Emeritus Professor Knox, of Birmingham

University, found an " exceptional " link between an increase in pneumonia

deaths in England and car exhaust fumes.

He said, " The number of children being hospitalised with pneumonia in

Scotland is very concerning. "

Investigating

A ish Government spokeswoman said they'd be probing the rises.

" There may be a number of reasons for these increases and we'll be

investigating this, " she added.

" A range of initiatives are under way to reduce respiratory conditions,

including pneumococcal vaccinations as part of the childhood vaccination

programme and also for the elderly, and a seasonal flu vaccination

programme every year.

" Further research is needed to establish whether the concentrations of

pollutants of the order present in Professor Knox's findings can be

linked to increases in deaths from pneumonia. "

Pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs, is usually caused by an

infection and symptoms include chest pain, high fever and breathlessness.

Antibiotics can often control it, but complications can be life-threatening.

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