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| Emergency Medical Services and Trauma ● Health Alert Network ● Health Hotline ● Emergency Preparedness & Response |
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Children and Anthrax: A Fact Sheet for Parents How
To Reduce Children’s Fears
What
Every Parent Should Know Anthrax
is an illness caused by bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. These
bacteria are found naturally in the soil. They can form a protective
coat around themselves called spores, and they can release poisonous
substances into the bodies of infected people.
You
and your children cannot catch anthrax from each other or from any other
person. Even if you were to become sick with anthrax, you could not pass
on the illness to your children. Also, even if someone were to put the
bacteria that causes anthrax in your workplace on purpose, it is highly
unlikely that you would carry the bacteria home to your children on your
clothes or hair. People
come into contact with (are “exposed” to) bacteria or become
infected with bacteria that cause anthrax in three ways. They can be
exposed and infected by breathing in (inhaling) the bacteria, by coming
into contact with the bacteria through cuts or abrasions in the skin, or
by eating something that contains the bacteria (usually undercooked meat
from an infected animal). The chance of coming into contact with the
bacteria in any of these ways is very low. Also, our bodies have
defenses against bacteria, so not everyone who comes into contact with
the bacteria will become ill with anthrax.
There
are three kinds of anthrax, all of which are treatable with antibiotics:
The
signs and symptoms of anthrax infection in children older than 2 months
of age are similar to those in adults. The illness affects children and
adults in much the same way, though children may be more likely to
suffer side effects from some of the antibiotics used to prevent or
treat the disease. Although
you may be tempted to ask your doctor for a supply of antibiotics to
keep on hand, neither the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) nor the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends doing this. You
should not obtain antibiotics for your children unless public health
authorities have confirmed that it is likely that your children have
come into contact with the bacteria that cause anthrax. Giving your
children antibiotics when the antibiotics are not needed can do more
harm than good. Many antibiotics have serious side effects in children,
and using antibiotics when they are not needed can lead to the
development of drug-resistant forms of bacteria in your children. If
this happens, the antibiotics will not be able to kill the resistant
bacteria the next time your child needs the same antibiotic to treat
ear, sinus, or other infections that children frequently develop. Currently, there is no anthrax vaccine for children.
The anthrax vaccine used for adults has never been studied in children,
and it is not recommended for people younger than 18 years old. It is
currently available only for people in the military service, although
public health officials are now considering its use for people in other
high-risk professions. The
chances of your children coming into contact with bacteria that cause
anthrax are extremely low. However, if public health officials confirm
or suspect that you or your children have come into contact with the
bacteria, your doctor or other health official will prescribe
antibiotics to keep you and your children from developing anthrax.
Early identification and treatment of anthrax in children is
critical, so call your health care provider immediately with any
questions or concerns. Remember:
never give your child an antibiotic unless a doctor has examined your
child and prescribed an antibiotic. Also, be sure to use any
antibiotic exactly as directed by the doctor or pharmacy. This
material was taken from the Centers for Disease Control Website,
www.bt.cdc.gov.
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Emergency Preparedness & Response Section |
Copyright © 2005 North Dakota Department of Health |