Pediatrics
The Comeback of Mumps
BOSTON (Reuters) - Mumps made an alarming comeback in the United States in 2006 and may take years to completely eradicate, federal health experts reported on Wednesday. The outbreak of the viral disease came despite the widespread use of a second dose of a mumps vaccine, produced by Merck, beginning in 1990. Eighty-four percent of the people between the ages of 18 and 24 who became ill in the outbreak had received the second recommended dose, the researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine."A more effective mumps vaccine or changes in vaccine policy may be needed to avert future outbreaks and achieve the elimination of mumps," Gustavo Dayan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and colleagues wrote.
There were no deaths from the virus, which can be as mild as a fever and swollen glands, or severe enough to cause deafness, testicular inflammation and encephalitis. But there were 6,584 cases nationwide and 85 hospitalizations, most concentrated in eight midwestern states and on college campuses.
"It would have been tens of thousands of cases if we didn't have the coverage," said Jane Seward, deputy director of the CDC's division of viral diseases.
The U.S. has a goal of eliminating the disease by 2010, but doctors consider a disease eliminated if there are no new home-grown cases over a 12-month period, Seward said in a telephone interview.
Thus, the goal might be achievable. But permanently banishing the disease is unlikely because 43 percent of nations do not vaccinate against the disease.
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Testimonials
I want to thank Dr. Coberly from the bottom of my heart for the care he has given me these past few years. When I hurt my neck and couldn't lift my painful arm, he fixed it. Last summer, when I pulled my clavicle joint apart, he fixed it. When I twisted my hip in April and couldn't walk, he fixed it.
I'll be 65 soon. I'm a small female and my biggest fear was that I would lose my job because I was hurt. I was so frightened and so anxious. I didn't file state compensation because I didn't want my boss to know I was hurt. He may have replaced me.
Dr. Coberly's rate was so low. When an orthopedic surgeon told me to wear a collar for my neck to keep it immobilized, I was already exercising it and remembered that Dr. Coberly said that joints will stiffen if they don't move. Already, his advice was working and with rubbing the muscles, eventually I was back to normal.
This last time I twisted my hip, and I was even more frightened. I watch people my age get injured and stay disabled. One after another end up having surgery and sometimes it doesn't help. Sometimes, it gets worse. But Dr. Guy fixed me again! I deeply thank him for his simplistic advice with exercising. Not only were there just a couple of exercises with my hip, but Dr. Coberly added, "You know how far to push it. It may feel as though you shouldn't exercise because it hurts, but it'll get better." I was sure I'd be back, but within two weeks I was working and had forgotten about my hip. All of the pain was gone.
I appreciate Dr. Guy. I tell everyone about him. I thank him again and again and again for the low cost, the treatment, the genuine concern he has, and the advice for exercising.
I'd like new patients to read this, but I'm not putting my name on it because I need to protect my job. At nearly 65, there are so many young people that could do it instead of me. Dr. Coberly's genuine concern reminds me to be more careful as I work. Read more.
