Nurse's Notes

Minimum Vaccine Requirements for Texas Schools

A student must be fully immunized against certain diseases or must present a certificate or statement that, for medical or religious reasons, the student will not be immunized. Proof of immunization may be personal records from a licensed physician or public health clinic with a signature or rubber-stamp validation.                           www.dshs.state.tx.us

Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection of the tissues (meninges) and sometimes the fluid (cerebral spinal fluid, (cerebral spinal fluid, or CSF) that surround the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis results in swelling of the brain tissue and in some cases the spinal tissue (spinal meningitis). When brain tissue swells, less blood and oxygen reach brain cells. If not treated, this can cause brain damage in some cases. The infection occurs most often in infants, young adults between the ages of 15 and 24, older adults, and people who have a long-standing health condition, such as a weakened immune system. Meningitis can range from mild to life-threatening. The severity usually depends on the organism causing the infection and a person's age and overall health.
www.cdc.gov

Pertussis

Whooping cough (pertussis) is an acute, highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by a bacterium. The first outbreaks of pertussis were described in the 16th century. The bacterium responsible for the infection, Bordetella pertussis, was not isolated until 1906. Each year, 5,000-7,000 cases of whooping cough (pertussis) are recorded each year in the United States. The incidence of pertussis has been steadily increasing since the 1980’s.       www.medicinenet.com