Risk of Bacterial Meningitis and Death in Children with Cochlear Implants - Page 6

R2D2 · 10-15-2007, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel

I agreed, because I did not know I was suppose to take a tetanus vaccine until my husband rushed me to the emergency room after I arrived home from a rib cook off show, both of my feet were infected with redness rashes, swelling and blisters that spread all over and I was feeling quite ill...When the two doctors on duty took one horrified look at both of my feet and was asking me a bunch of questions as how I got my feet looking this bad and they thought I stepped on a rusty nail or something, but I told them I work outdoors at my dad's company which is a rib festville, and explained what I do there etc...I didn't realize that tetanus can be contracted in many ways such as any puncture wound, especially one that is deep, animal scratches, bites, other wounds contaminated by both human and animal feces, saliva and etc....The doctor asked me when was the last time I had taken a tetanus vaccine, and I honestly didn't even remember if I taken one or not when I was younger but I had to take another one since I didn't take a tetanus vaccine during my adulthood...

Here's picture similar to what both of my feet looks like....Sorry for the off-topic here...

Ouch! You poor thing! That looks really painful. Is it healed up now or do you still have problems with your feet? It's amazing that it just happened after the cook off and you didn't know where it had come from. I think this is a reminder for all of us to check that our vaccines are up to date.

After I read a bit more about the two children that died recently, I have to say I'm surprised that they were not vaccinated. Apparently, both of them had the CIs with the positioners, which haven't been manufacturered since about 2002 due to the link with meninigitis. I know people forget over the years but you would think that parents with that particular model of CI would be more alert than average. It is disappointing.

Liebling:-))) · 10-15-2007, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R2D2

I don't think that those parents are any more neglectful than any other parents at large. Parents are forgetful about children's vaccinations especially when they are well. Here in Australia every parent get a one off payment from the government for each child for completing their schedule of vaccinations because forgetfulness is such a big problem.

It shows that the clinics basically need to follow up on the parents' getting repeat vaccinations for their children. There is a big misconception out there (and I used to believe it) that you are protected for life with one shot. I did not know until I did research on vaccinations for my daughter that some vaccinations are only good for a few years. Adults too should be keeping up with their booster shots.

Yes, it's same here in Germany as well. children's vaccinations are obligation until they are 18 years old. We will get big problem with government if we neglect or forget our control children's vaccination. The child physician gave us the yellow book of children's vaccation... It tell us when the children should received... Before my both sons' first school day, we received the letter from health department telling us to bring yellow book to control children's vaccination.

wow, Angel... I remember you mention about your feet problem in your thread last year... It look painful...

Yes, we received tetanus vaccine once in every 10 years, my family also have as well. We need to control our pass when our vaccination need to be done.

My both boys received vaccine to protect hepatitis B vaccine every 2 years.

Angel · 10-15-2007, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R2D2

Ouch! You poor thing! That looks really painful. Is it healed up now or do you still have problems with your feet? It's amazing that it just happened after the cook off and you didn't know where it had come from. I think this is a reminder for all of us to check that our vaccines are up to date.

No, it happened during the cook offs, I was gone for 4 weeks before I arrived home, we travel from state to state to do a rib cook off show...Yes it healed for about two weeks or so....Yes I still have problems with my feet from time to time after standing on it for a long period of times, but I haven't had anymore infections since I last taken the vaccine...

Quote:

After I read a bit more about the two children that died recently, I have to say I'm surprised that they were not vaccinated. Apparently, both of them had the CIs with the positioners, which haven't been manufacturered since about 2002 due to the link with meninigitis. I know people forget over the years but you would think that parents with that particular model of CI would be more alert than average. It is disappointing.

I agree, it is...

Angel · 10-15-2007, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liebling:-)))

Yes, it's same here in Germany as well. children's vaccinations are obligation until they are 18 years old. We will get big problem with government if we neglect or forget our control children's vaccination. The child physician gave us the yellow book of children's vaccation... It tell us when the children should received... Before my both sons' first school day, we received the letter from health department telling us to bring yellow book to control children's vaccination.

wow, Angel... I remember you mention about your feet problem in your thread last year... It look painful...

Yes, we received tetanus vaccine once in every 10 years, my family also have as well. We need to control our pass when our vaccination need to be done.

My both boys received vaccine to protect hepatitis B vaccine every 2 years.

Yes you're correct, that what the doctor told me too every 10 years....I wish I knew this before, but I'm glad I do now...

Cloggy · 10-15-2007, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

How exactly is the risk of dying from bacterial meningitis (BM is bowel movement) lessened when you are deaf with a CI?

Awareness...
And, I'm sorry that when talking about bacterial meningitis, you were still confused and thought "BM" was "bowel movement".. but you did manage to figure it out.. Hurray!

Like they say in Holland....
"Waar het hoofd vol van is, loopt de mond van over."

jillio · 10-15-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloggy

Awareness...
And, I'm sorry that when talking about bacterial meningitis, you were still confused and thought "BM" was "bowel movement".. but you did manage to figure it out.. Hurray!

Like they say in Holland....
"Waar het hoofd vol van is, loopt de mond van over."

No, cloggy, I was correcting you. You used the abbreviation "BM" which is the accepted abbreviation for "bowel movement", not bnacterial meningitis.

Did you see the article that said that over 50% of parents of children with CI are unaware whether their children had completed the vaccine? So much for awareness. The child is at increased risk, the parents are unaware, and the parents are not certain whether their child has been protected fromthe risk. That all translates to increased, not reduced, risk.

LTHFAdvocate · 10-15-2007, 01:20 PM

What I think it translates to is some clinics not doing a thorough enough job. If every implant center refused to do an implant without proof of vaccination from the GP/pediatrician, then it wouldn't matter whether the families remembered if the vaccination had been done.

Sheri

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

No, cloggy, I was correcting you. You used the abbreviation "BM" which is the accepted abbreviation for "bowel movement", not bnacterial meningitis.

Did you see the article that said that over 50% of parents of children with CI are unaware whether their children had completed the vaccine? So much for awareness. The child is at increased risk, the parents are unaware, and the parents are not certain whether their child has been protected fromthe risk. That all translates to increased, not reduced, risk.

Cheri · 10-15-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel

No, it happened during the cook off(

Yep, I remembered, It wasn't a pretty sight, looked very painful.

Audiofuzzy · 10-15-2007, 02:20 PM

I just wanted to clear up something with Angel - did you actually contracted tetanus, or some other infection but the doctor advised you take tetanus shots as precaution?
And it does looks very painful. I am sorry about that.

Fuzzy

jillio · 10-15-2007, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTHFAdvocate

What I think it translates to is some clinics not doing a thorough enough job. If every implant center refused to do an implant without proof of vaccination from the GP/pediatrician, then it wouldn't matter whether the families remembered if the vaccination had been done.

Sheri

I agree with you on this.

Tousi · 10-15-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTHFAdvocate

What I think it translates to is some clinics not doing a thorough enough job. If every implant center refused to do an implant without proof of vaccination from the GP/pediatrician, then it wouldn't matter whether the families remembered if the vaccination had been done.

Sheri

That's so true; are you in a position to make said policy where you work? Or suggest it?

Angel · 10-15-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audiofuzzy

I just wanted to clear up something with Angel - did you actually contracted tetanus, or some other infection but the doctor advised you take tetanus shots as precaution?
And it does looks very painful. I am sorry about that.

Fuzzy

It can be either, they just didn't know, and yes they advised me to take tetanus anyways....

Once again sorry for the off-topic....

Audiofuzzy · 10-15-2007, 06:35 PM

Thanks

Fuzzy

Angel · 10-16-2007, 10:46 AM

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 11 -- The FDA has alerted physicians to the need for children with cochlear implants to be fully immunized against bacterial meningitis, citing two recent deaths that might have been prevented.

In a public health notice, the FDA said there was an increased life-threatening risk of bacterial meningitis in cochlear implant recipients caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, particularly those children with implants that have a positioner.

Only one cochlear implant has a position and that device was withdrawn from the market in July 2002.

The FDA said the two deaths -- in children ages nine and 11 -- both occurred in the past year in children who were not fully immunized and had been implanted with a cochlear implant with a positioner.

"At least one of these children had meningitis caused by a serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae that may have been prevented by proper vaccinations," the FDA said.

The FDA said that results of a recent survey revealed that only 29% of parents or guardians of children younger than two with cochlear implant knew whether their children were properly vaccinated. The survey, by John Niparko, M.D., of Johns Hopkins, found that vaccination status was also unknown for 43% of implant patients older than two.

The FDA said physicians should follow CDC recommendations regarding vaccinations for cochlear implant patients, which is the same vaccination schedule as that recommended for other high-risk patients.

The FDA also recommended that cochlear implant recipients, their families, teachers, and daycare providers be briefed on the signs of meningitis in order to ensure early detection and treatment.

Early signs of meningitis may include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, or vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, sleepiness, or confusion. Some patients have ear pain or ear infection. Very young children may be sleepy, cranky, or eat less.

Finally, the FDA recommended that physicians:

Diagnose and treat otitis media promptly. In some of the meningitis cases reported to FDA, cochlear implant recipients had signs of middle ear infection prior to surgery or before the meningitis developed. For this reason, according to American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guidelines, clinicians should diagnose and treat otitis media promptly in patients with cochlear implants. They should also consider antibiotic therapy more readily in these patients than others. Consider prophylactic antibiotics. Healthcare providers should consider prophylactic antibiotic treatment perioperatively in children receiving cochlear implants.

Medical Device Safety: Advice for Patients with Cochlear Implants: New Information on Meningitis Risk

IslandGal · 10-16-2007, 12:36 PM

^ Thanks for reposting my post #142.

I can see that it is being overlooked a bit. No wonder why they are right about a lot parents of CI users are not aware of whether or not their children were vaccinated. I feel that some parents rush with the Cochlear Impants on their children without researching on it more deeply. I do hope that the article will help them to be more aware of the risks with Bacterial Meningiitis. I do feel bad for these children who died from it

Angel · 10-16-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IslandGal

^ Thanks for reposting my post #142.

LOL, the truth is I posted the wrong link, here's the correct link for the post above you Medical News: Two Deaths Prompt FDA Meningitis Alert on Cochlear Implants - in Product Alert, Devices and Vaccines from MedPage Today

Sorry about that..

IslandGal · 10-16-2007, 12:50 PM

That's good......the more links we post the more we can make the parents more aware.

LTHFAdvocate · 10-16-2007, 01:07 PM

This has been the policy at our clinic for quite some time, but it may not be the policy at all clinics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

That's so true; are you in a position to make said policy where you work? Or suggest it?

LTHFAdvocate · 10-16-2007, 01:48 PM

Studies on meningitis after implantation.

Keep in mind these studies are in RATS

Threshold shift: effects of cochlear implantation ...[Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007] - PubMed Result

Protective effects of local administration of cipr...[Laryngoscope. 2006] - PubMed Result

And one by the same authors not yet available on PubMed, "Assessment of the Protective Effect of Pneumococcal Vaccination in Preventing Meningitis After Cochlear Implantation, Arch Otolarnygol Head Nec Surg. 2007; 133(10):987-994.

Sheri

shel90 · 10-16-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IslandGal

^ Thanks for reposting my post #142.

I can see that it is being overlooked a bit. No wonder why they are right about a lot parents of CI users are not aware of whether or not their children were vaccinated. I feel that some parents rush with the Cochlear Impants on their children without researching on it more deeply. I do hope that the article will help them to be more aware of the risks with Bacterial Meningiitis. I do feel bad for these children who died from it

The recent news about the two deaths was the hot topic at work today. Wow..I couldnt bear to listen anymore cuz it is so sad.

Notices were sent home to the parents of the implanted students about the vaccines.

jillio · 10-16-2007, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

The recent news about the two deaths was the hot topic at work today. Wow..I couldnt bear to listen anymore cuz it is so sad.

Notices were sent home to the parents of the implanted students about the vaccines.

Better retroactive than nonactive, I suppose. Why in the world is the medical community failing to get this information to parents? How can anyone claim that parents are making informed decisions under these circumstances?

R2D2 · 10-17-2007, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

Better retroactive than nonactive, I suppose. Why in the world is the medical community failing to get this information to parents? How can anyone claim that parents are making informed decisions under these circumstances?

I suspect that getting the information to the parents is not the problem, since no CI center worth it's legal salt is going to forget something like that when it could result in a lawsuit. The problem is motivating parents to actually do it.

Some people have a "it will never happen to me" mentality. I see kids all the time in the back seat of cars unrestrained by seat belts and shake my head. If the percentage of CI children actually getting meningitis was higher than it was then perhaps they would be more diligent about it but because its under 1%, it gets dismissed and forgotten about?

Audiofuzzy · 10-17-2007, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Some people have a "it will never happen to me" mentality.

and some people "doesn't believe" in vaccinations...

Fuzzy

Tousi · 10-17-2007, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTHFAdvocate

This has been the policy at our clinic for quite some time, but it may not be the policy at all clinics.

Surely, this information/policy can be made known through your field's periodicals, conventions, etc, no?

10-15-2007, 02:20 PM	#159 (permalink)
Audiofuzzy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,969	I just wanted to clear up something with Angel - did you actually contracted tetanus, or some other infection but the doctor advised you take tetanus shots as precaution? And it does looks very painful. I am sorry about that. Fuzzy __________________ Truth breeds hatred. ~Bias of Priene, Maxims A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble. Mohandas Gandhi

10-15-2007, 06:35 PM	#163 (permalink)
Audiofuzzy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,969	Thanks Fuzzy __________________ Truth breeds hatred. ~Bias of Priene, Maxims A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble. Mohandas Gandhi

10-16-2007, 10:46 AM	#164 (permalink)
Angel Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 18,695	Advice for Patients with Cochlear Implants: New Information on Meningitis Risk ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 11 -- The FDA has alerted physicians to the need for children with cochlear implants to be fully immunized against bacterial meningitis, citing two recent deaths that might have been prevented. In a public health notice, the FDA said there was an increased life-threatening risk of bacterial meningitis in cochlear implant recipients caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, particularly those children with implants that have a positioner. Only one cochlear implant has a position and that device was withdrawn from the market in July 2002. The FDA said the two deaths -- in children ages nine and 11 -- both occurred in the past year in children who were not fully immunized and had been implanted with a cochlear implant with a positioner. "At least one of these children had meningitis caused by a serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae that may have been prevented by proper vaccinations," the FDA said. The FDA said that results of a recent survey revealed that only 29% of parents or guardians of children younger than two with cochlear implant knew whether their children were properly vaccinated. The survey, by John Niparko, M.D., of Johns Hopkins, found that vaccination status was also unknown for 43% of implant patients older than two. The FDA said physicians should follow CDC recommendations regarding vaccinations for cochlear implant patients, which is the same vaccination schedule as that recommended for other high-risk patients. The FDA also recommended that cochlear implant recipients, their families, teachers, and daycare providers be briefed on the signs of meningitis in order to ensure early detection and treatment. Early signs of meningitis may include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, or vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, sleepiness, or confusion. Some patients have ear pain or ear infection. Very young children may be sleepy, cranky, or eat less. Finally, the FDA recommended that physicians: Diagnose and treat otitis media promptly. In some of the meningitis cases reported to FDA, cochlear implant recipients had signs of middle ear infection prior to surgery or before the meningitis developed. For this reason, according to American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guidelines, clinicians should diagnose and treat otitis media promptly in patients with cochlear implants. They should also consider antibiotic therapy more readily in these patients than others. Consider prophylactic antibiotics. Healthcare providers should consider prophylactic antibiotic treatment perioperatively in children receiving cochlear implants. Medical Device Safety: Advice for Patients with Cochlear Implants: New Information on Meningitis Risk

10-16-2007, 12:36 PM	#165 (permalink)
IslandGal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 4,224	^ Thanks for reposting my post #142. I can see that it is being overlooked a bit. No wonder why they are right about a lot parents of CI users are not aware of whether or not their children were vaccinated. I feel that some parents rush with the Cochlear Impants on their children without researching on it more deeply. I do hope that the article will help them to be more aware of the risks with Bacterial Meningiitis. I do feel bad for these children who died from it __________________ PM me for more info on Scentsy: The HOTTEST New Thing in Candles.

10-16-2007, 12:50 PM	#167 (permalink)
IslandGal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 4,224	That's good......the more links we post the more we can make the parents more aware. __________________ PM me for more info on Scentsy: The HOTTEST New Thing in Candles.

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10-16-2007, 01:48 PM	#169 (permalink)
LTHFAdvocate Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 178	Studies on meningitis after implantation. Keep in mind these studies are in RATS Threshold shift: effects of cochlear implantation ...[Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007] - PubMed Result Protective effects of local administration of cipr...[Laryngoscope. 2006] - PubMed Result And one by the same authors not yet available on PubMed, "Assessment of the Protective Effect of Pneumococcal Vaccination in Preventing Meningitis After Cochlear Implantation, Arch Otolarnygol Head Nec Surg. 2007; 133(10):987-994. Sheri

10-17-2007, 08:38 AM	#175 (permalink)
Cheri Premium Member