Results of a national survey indicate new and expectant parents have limited understanding of the risks of invasive pneumococcal disease in children.
For the survey — conducted online by Harris Poll and sponsored by Parents magazine and Pfizer — more than 2,000 expectant mothers and parents of children under two years old responded to questions assessing their knowledge of childhood infectious diseases.
Results indicated 69 percent of respondents were knowledgeable about pertussis (whooping cough), 68 percent were knowledgeable about the measles, 64 percent displayed knowledge about polio, and 63 percent were knowledgeable about the mumps and hepatitis B, respectively. Just 30 percent of respondents were knowledgeable about IPD, and 23 percent of respondents had never heard of the illness.
"The first few years of parenthood are a series of learning experiences, but when it comes to infectious diseases, such as IPD, it's best to be as prepared as possible," said Jen Trachtenberg, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and contributor to Parents magazine. "It's important parents stay informed, recognize common symptoms — such as fever, chills, headache and irritability — and, most importantly, talk to their pediatrician about how to best keep their child safe."
There are many types of pneumococcal disease, which include pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. Among children under five years old who develop pneumococcal meningitis, approximately 1 in 5 die, according to the CDC.
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