Defending Vaccination in Children Essay Example

Introduction

Vaccination is a vital tool that helps prevent diseases (Bloom et al., 2005). Children vaccinations are particularly important since they prevent 6 million deaths annually for the entire world. For the latter reason, guided by the empirical evidence, scientists agree that the importance of vaccines is governed by scientific facts rather than mere opinions and fallacies. Recently, child vaccination has come under a hotbed of controversies steered by frustrated parents seeking answers for the autism menace. This state has resulted to a surge of fear on parents due to the horror stories on child vaccination (Bloom et al., 2005). However, vaccines in children surpass the false concerns instigated against it for various reasons.

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Child vaccinations allow the human adaptive immune system to participate in the production of specific antibodies as well as the immunological memory that will serve the body in buffering potential future pathogen infections. Practically, the vaccines given to children contain attenuated versions of pathogens while still being sufficiently present for the body of a child to recognize it as foreign (Bloom et al., 2005). However, the presence of the weakened pathogens cannot induce infection thus keeping the immune system on toes to recognize foreign pathogens and kill them.

The accomplishments of childhood vaccines are immense in such a way that, the efficacy of the vaccines is relevant even to children who might have allergic reactions towards the vaccines or their immune response is weak (Federman, 2014). Vaccines work with numbers such that their efficacy depends on the population utility thus giving herd immunity. Consequently, even for those that have less resistance are still kept from falling sick since the capability of the surrounding community has minimal chances of harboring epidemics.

Diabetes mellitus medication

Diabetes mellitus is a condition that has two types namely Diabetes type 1 and diabetes type 2. Type 2 is a condition in which the human body is unable to utilize glucose in the system efficiently for energy (Baynes, 2015). The body becomes insensitive to insulin hormone while the sugar content in the blood shoots. Diabetes type 1 functions in such a way that the pancreases ceases entirely to make insulin caused by autoimmune destruction of the cells that produce insulin.

Biguanides are a class of drugs that treat diabetes type 2 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). It comprises of Metformin which is a line of therapy consisting of Glucophage, Fortamet, Glucophage XR, Riomet, and Glumetza. These line of treatment works in such a way that it stops the excess production of glucose by the liver by preventing the liver from producing excess glucose. Baynes states that the patients prescribed with Metformin are culpable in losing weight which is a benefit to the control of blood sugar (2015). The side effects of this drug include lactic acidosis as well as low blood sugar levels. The patients who are pregnant are advised to seek medical help before taking Metformin since the medication has a limitation of being utilized only when needed.

Sulfonureas is a class of oral medication that is objectively used to control the blood sugar level in patients of diabetes type 2. Examples of drugs in this class include Amaryl, Diamicron, Tolbutamide among others. The mechanism of action for this class of drugs work by stimulating the production of insulin from the pancreas as well as improving the effectiveness of insulin in the patient's system (Baynes, 2015). The benefits of Sulfonureas is the effect it has on the pancreas to increase production of insulin which helps reduce glucose level in blood. However, this class of drugs is not suitable for those patients who have had a pancreatectomy or those that have diminished significantly the ability to produce insulin, and these drugs are also not recommended for patients with obesity.

Canagliflozin or Invokan is also a class of oral medications that are administered to patients with diabetes type 2. The mechanism of Invokana works to stop or inhibit the intake of glucose in the kidneys thus helping some of the glucose to be excreted out through urine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). The risks of these drugs included ketoacidosis, hyperkalemia as well as severe urinary tract infections. A patient can also get severe kidney injury as well as the impairment in renal function and lower limbs amputation. Patients who are pregnant or intending to get pregnant are advised not to use this medication, or they should seek medical attention before use. While using this medication, patients are encouraged to adhere to prescribed dietary instructions, physical exercise regularly and glucose monitoring.

For diabetes type 1, Insulin is the most preferred medication for treatment (Baynes, 2015). Insulin is administered to a patient through intravenous injection which comes in various types which include short-acting insulin (Humulin and Novolin), rapid-acting insulins (Novolog, FlexPen, Apidra, Humalog), Intermediate-acting insulin (insulin isophane), long-lasting insulins (tresiba, Levemir, Lantus, Toujeo) and combination insulins. The insulin given to a patient depends on the extent of severity of the depletion of insulin in the body. The patient is required to continually check their blood sugar level daily and coordinate their day to day activities from meals to physical exercise. The risks include low blood sugar instances, gaining of weight and the drug being also expensive.

Pramlintide is a drug that addresses diabetes type 1 and is an amylinomimetic drug. Pramlintide is administered through injection before meals, the mechanism of work is delaying the time taken by the stomach to empty itself. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the drug limits glucagon secretion done after intake of food which helps lower the blood sugar as well as reduce the appetite (2011). The risk that might occur during utility of this medication is insulin-induced profound hypoglycemia which is observed after 3 hours of the injection. Patients are advised not to mix primlintide with insulin but rather to administer separately.

Conclusion

Child vaccinations are surrounded by conspiracy theories that seek to caution parents not to immunize their infants. However, there exists no known scientific proof that subjects child vaccinations to questions. In fact, the success rate of vaccination surpasses the fallacies laid out against immunization. Child vaccines offer a herd protection such that even those allergic to the immunizations get to be protected. For these reasons, child vaccinations have continued to offer protection against diseases which has led to near eradication of some diseases.

Diabetes mellitus has become a menace in the last few decades which seeks lasting and better medications to deal with the variations and causes of the diseases. It is thus important comprehend the cause of diabetes mellitus and its mechanism for proper administration of medication. In addition to the stated medication in this research, it is important to couple medication with necessary instructions and therapies such as physical exercise as well as diet plans. With proper consistency with the various dosages and prescriptions, diabetes mellitus can be managed resulting to a better lifestyle for the patients.

References

Baynes, H. W. (2015). Classification, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of diabetes mellitus. J Diabetes Metab, 6(5), 1-9.

Bloom, D. E., Canning, D., & Weston, M. (2005). The value of vaccination. WORLD ECONOMICS-HENLEY ON THAMES-, 6(3), 15.

Federman, R. S. (2014). Understanding vaccines: a public imperative. The Yale journal of biology and medicine, 87(4), 417.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). National diabetes fact sheet: national estimates and general information on diabetes and prediabetes in the United States, 2011. Atlanta, GA: US department of health and human services, centers for disease control and prevention, 201(1).