Parents have come to depend on vaccines to protect their children from a variety of diseases. Some evidence suggests, however, that vaccination against pertussis (whooping cough) and rubella (German measles) is, in a small number of cases, associated with increased risk of serious illness. This book examines the controversy over the evidence and offers a comprehensively documented assessment of the risk of illness following immunization with vaccines against pertussis and rubella. Based on extensive review of the evidence from epidemiologic studies, case histories, studies in animals, and other sources of information, the book examines: The relation of pertussis vaccines to a number of serious adverse events, including encephalopathy and other central nervous system disorders, sudden infant death syndrome, autism, Guillain-Barre syndrome, learning disabilities, and Reye syndrome. The relation of rubella vaccines to arthritis, various neuropathies, and thrombocytopenic purpura. The volume, which includes a description of the committee's methods for evaluating evidence and directions for future research, will be important reading for public health officials, pediatricians, researchers, and concerned parents.

Includes subject section, name section, and 1968-1970, technical reports.

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

Immunization during pregnancy with currently recommended vaccines prevents infection in the mother, the unborn fetus, and the young infant, and there is an increasing focus from different stakeholders to use this approach for other infections of importance to protect these vulnerable groups. The aim of this Maternal Immunization book is to provide a contemporary overview of vaccines used in pregnancy (and the lactation period), with emphasis on aspects of importance for the target groups, namely, rationale for the use of vaccines in pregnancy, safety, immunogenicity (immunology), timing to vaccinate, repeat doses, protective effects in the mother, fetus, and infant, and public acceptance and implementation, of existing and of future vaccines. - Provides an overview of a quickly evolving topic. This will benefit the reader who wishes to rapidly become informed and up-to-date with new developments in this field - Suitable to a broad audience: scientific researchers, obstetricians, gynecologists, neonatologists, vaccinators, pediatricians, students, and industry. Maternal vaccination impacts a wide range of specialists - Allows health care professionals/researchers to gain insight into other aspects of vaccination in pregnancy outside of their specialism - Is coauthored by specialists from multiple disciplines, providing a diverse view of the subject, increasing its interest and appeal - Creates awareness of the current developments in this area of medicine and of the potential of maternal vaccination to improve the health of mothers and infants worldwide

This is a companion volume to Viral Infections of Humans: Epidemiology and Control. The apparent success of that book in bridging the gap between texts on basic microbiology and those on clinical infectious diseases led to editing this one on bacterial infections, the chapters of which are organized in exactly the same format of 12 units: introduction, historical background, methodology, biological characteristics of the organism, descriptive epidemiology, mechanisms and routes of transmission, pathogenesis and im munity, patterns of host response, control and prevention, unresolved problems, references, and suggested reading. The purpose of this book is to provide a description and understanding of the pathogenesis of infection and disease both within the community and within the individual. This is done in the belief that a variety of factors in both the external and the internal environment, and in the nature of the infectious agent, influence exposure, the development of infection, and the pattern of the host response. An understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of these processes forms the basis for approaches to control and prevention. The first two chapters of this book deal with general epidemiological concepts and with surveillance.