Please go through the FAQs made available by Chief Medical Officer, IIT Hospital.
Regards
Abhijeet
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ON
VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES SUCH AS MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA, CHICKENPOX, HEPATITIS –A AND TYPHOID
Q.1 What is the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases among the students of IIT?
The incidence is very high. About 50% of student admissions are due to these diseases. During epidemics several students have to be referred to outside hospital for isolation.
Q.2 What facility does IITB hospital have to treat them?
Infection such as Mumps, Measles, Rubella and Hepatitis-A do not have specific treatment. In spite of treatment of chickenpox and Typhoid, prolonged hospitalization is required. Hospital is likely to have an isolation ward in near future.
Q.3 Can these diseases be treated as Out Patient?
Mumps, Measles, Rubella and chickenpox require isolation. Patients with Hepatitis A are mostly admitted because they are very weak for their daily routine and need special diet. Typhoid can rarely be treated as out patient.,
Q.4 What are the most discomforting aspects of these diseases?
Need for isolation. Sometimes to outside hospitals.
Prolonged hospitalization.
Repeated investigations for diseases such as typhoid.
Need for family member’s presence.
Loss of academic days.
Complications are infrequent but disabling.
Some diseases such as Measles and Rubella predispose a person to Tuberculosis, which is rampant in Mumbai.
Mumps can lead to permanent infertility in males.
Rubella can lead to congenital anomalies in fetus.
Q. 5 What are the side effects of these Vaccines?
Vaccines may have minor side effects such as fever, pain at injection site, headache etc. Major side effects are rare. In our experience at the institute hospital for several years, no major side effect is reported.
Q.6 I was vaccinated in childhood. Do I need to take vaccines again?
Hepatitis-A, Typhoid and Chickenpox vaccines were not part of immunization schedule 15 years back. 2nd dose of MMR vaccines is required after 15 years of age. If you have been vaccinated with any of these vaccines in the past, please inform the prescribing doctor.
Q. 7 I have received Hepatitis-B vaccine. Do I need Hepatitis-A vaccine?
Yes.
