Weekly View » Eskenazi Health

The Battle to Eradicate Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Dr. Nydia Nunez-Estrada — Thu, 03 May 2018 05:09:51 +0000

Recent data tells us vaccines save an estimated six million to nine million lives worldwide annually, including three million children. Since their inception in the United States, vaccinations have decreased most vaccine-preventable diseases by 95 percent.
Thanks to effective immunizations, lethal diseases to a large population such as measles and polio in the United States, and smallpox throughout the world, have been minimized or completely eliminated. Although incredible progress has been made towards keeping many diseases at bay through vaccinations, the bacteria and viruses that cause diseases are still among us, so the gains that have been made through vaccines must be maintained by ensuring that we all keep current with our prescribed vaccinations.
Vaccines protect individuals, and in doing so they also protect large populations from harmful diseases. As the percentage of vaccinated individuals increases in a given population, the odds of a susceptible individual coming in contact with an infected person decrease dramatically. Although the vaccination rate to ensure immunity to a particular disease varies by vaccine, in general it ranges from 80 percent to 95 percent of a given population.
There are many groups of people who are especially vulnerable to communicable diseases, including those who are too young to be vaccinated and those who decide for themselves or their parents decide for them, that they will not receive vaccinations due to religious or personal beliefs. Poverty and the cost of vaccinations also play a large role in some youngsters not getting the vaccinations they need.
Because vaccines are most effective when administered to children at a young age and continued on a recommended schedule, when those procedures aren’t followed it leaves many innocent children at risk for contracting various diseases, which is common in the United States. These children find themselves either not vaccinated at all or not fully vaccinated, with both failings increasing the possibility of dangerous consequences.
Despite the fact that all 50 states have mandated vaccination guidelines for schoolchildren older than age 5 who attend a state-licensed day care facility or school, a growing number of nonmedical exemptions have emerged in recent years with the result being an increased risk of infectious disease outbreaks, especially among children. When that happens, entire populations become more susceptible to contracting a vaccine-preventable disease.
For adults, there are vaccination mandates for those who work in certain health care facilities, immigrants seeking permanent residence in the U.S. and individuals serving in the military. However, the majority of vaccination mandates apply only to children.
In understanding how effective vaccinations are in keeping individuals and entire populations healthy, an individual’s refusal to be vaccinated, or their decision to keep members of their family from receiving necessary vaccinations, must be taken seriously and discouraged. Every effort must be made to inform individuals standing in the way of immunizations to fully understand the serious risks they’re inflicting on themselves or those they’re responsible for.
Large populations receiving vaccinations in the fight against smallpox consigned that dreaded disease to the ash heap of history. With similar worldwide cooperation, the same result is attainable in order to get rid of polio, measles and many other diseases once and for all.
If you have concerns or questions about vaccine-preventable diseases or are in need of a primary care physician for yourself or someone else, please call 317-880-8687 or visit www.eskenazihealth.edu/doctors.

Dr. Nydia Nunez-Estrada
Family Medicine Physician at Eskenazi Health

Annual St. Margaret’s Guild Decorator’s Show House April 28-May 13

Weekly View — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 05:10:38 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — This year’s St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild Decorators’ Show House and Gardens will once again allow the public to tour a classic Butler-Tarkington home with proceeds benefiting Eskenazi Health. This year’s residence is located at 4140 N. Illinois St. at the historic Wainwright-Cochran House.
Proceeds from the show house will benefit nursing at Eskenazi Health. The annual event runs from April 28 – May 13 (closed Mondays). Daily tours are open to the public from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tues. through Sun. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.showhouseindy.org for $20. At the door, guests 65 and older can purchase tickets for $18 and children 3 to 12 for $5. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased at select Meijer stores for $18 through April 27. Special group rates are also available. In addition to the daily tours, there are many special events to enjoy. Free parking is available on nearby city streets.
Interior designers and landscapers have been hard at work since February restoring and renovating the historic house. The Tudor Revival residence was built in 1925 by Guy and Jeanette Wainwright. The house was later purchased by Richard and Jessie Cochran. It is now owned by her son and his wife Donald and Clare Acheson.
From its beginning in 1907, the guild has raised more than $13 million to support the work of Eskenazi Health. This generous philanthropic support has benefited Eskenazi Health patients directly through programs and services. This year, the guild is raising proceeds to benefit nursing at Eskenazi Health.
This year’s show house marks the 57th time the guild has hosted the event, which will feature more than 50 area designers and landscapers using their talent and creativity to transform the historic Wainwright-Cochran House. For additional information, please visit www.showhouseindy.org.

HIV Information and Treatment Options

Weekly View — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 06:09:28 +0000

Since the early 1980s, more than 70 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 35 million people have died of HIV. Globally, 36.7 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2016.
While there is no cure for HIV, the science in battling the infection is constantly improving and there are treatments available to help individuals live a long and productive life.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is a medicine ingested by people at very high risk for contracting HIV. PrEP is taken daily to lower their chances of getting infected. PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout the body. It is highly effective for preventing HIV if used as prescribed, but it is much less effective when not taken consistently.
While taking PrEP is not guaranteed to prevent HIV, when taken properly it reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90 percent. Among people who inject drugs, PrEP reduces the risk by more than 70 percent. The risk of attaining HIV from sex decreases substantially when combining PrEP with condoms and other prevention methods.
While no serious side effects are associated with PrEP, some people experience nausea which can subside over time. However, it’s advisable to tell your health provider of any side effects that are severe or may linger.
For those who believe they may have been infected with HIV, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a medicine that should be used only in emergency situations and must be started within 72 hours.
Individuals who believe they have been exposed to HIV during sex or through sharing needles need to immediately speak about PEP with their health care provider or an emergency medicine physician. Every hour counts, so the sooner an individual starts taking PEP the better. PEP, which is effective in preventing HIV if taken correctly, is not 100 percent effective. The medication needs to be taken once or twice a day for 28 days.
Like PrEP, PEP can cause nausea in some people. Individuals taking PEP should continue to use condoms with sex partners and utilize safe injection practices to avoid transmitting HIV to others.
PEP is not the right choice for people who may be exposed to HIV frequently, particularly for those who often have sex without a condom with a partner who is HIV-positive. Because PEP is administered after a potential exposure to HIV, more drugs and higher doses are needed to block infection than with PrEP.
If you have concerns or questions about sexually transmitted diseases or are in need of a primary care physician for yourself or someone else, please call 317-880-8687 or visit www.eskenazihealth.edu/doctors.

Dr. Nydia Nunez-Estrada
Family Medicine Physician at Eskenazi Health

Signs and Symptoms of Seizures

Dr. Nydia Nunez-Estrada — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 05:09:47 +0000

A seizure is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. One of the most frightening experiences for a parent is seeing their child having a seizure. The unexpected nature of a seizure can be alarming and scary. Parents should seek immediate medical attention for the child who is having his or her first seizure.
Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. This can include a high fever, low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a brain concussion.
In newborns and infants, seizures may be caused by perinatal disorders, prematurity, fever, metabolic or chemical imbalances in the body or genetic factors. In children, adolescents and young adults, seizures may be caused by alcohol, drugs, trauma to the head, brain injury, infection, congenital conditions or genetic factors. Other possible causes of seizures may include brain tumors, neurological problems, drug withdrawal, medications or use of illicit drugs.
A child may have varying degrees of symptoms depending on the type of the seizure. Symptoms or warning signs of a seizure may include:
• Staring
• Jerking movements of the arms and legs
• Stiffening of the body
• Loss of consciousness
• Breathing problems or breathing stops
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness
• Not responding to noise or words for brief periods
• Appearing confused or in a haze
• Periods of rapid eye blinking and staring
If you see that a child is having a seizure, place him or her on the ground or floor in a safe area, preferably on their right side. You should immediately remove any nearby objects and loosen any clothing around the head or neck. Do not try to wedge the child’s mouth open or place an object between the teeth, and do not attempt to restrain movements. Once the seizure seems to have ended, you should gently comfort the child. It’s best for kids to remain lying down until they have recovered fully and want to move around.
If your child has previously had seizures, call 911 if a seizure lasts more than five minutes or is for some reason very alarming to you and you’re worried for your child’s safety. You should also call 911 if your child has a head injury, may have ingested something poisonous, has difficulty breathing or has never had a seizure before.
The full extent of a seizure may not be completely understood until a comprehensive medical evaluation and diagnostic testing. During the examination, your child’s physician will obtain a complete medical history of the child and family and ask when the seizures occurred.
The goal of seizure management is to control, stop or decrease the frequency of the seizures without interfering with the child’s normal growth and development.
It is important to note that epilepsy is different than a seizure. When a person has two or more recurrent, unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.
To learn more about the cause and impact of a seizure, please see your child’s pediatrician or primary care physician. Eskenazi Health provides well-child checkup services at several locations. For more information on these services or to find a pediatrician or primary care physician, please call 317-880-8687. Eskenazi Health Center has a sliding fee schedule and is open to all regardless of ability to pay.

Nydia Nuñez-Estrada, M.D.
Family Medicine
Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington