To some the chicken pox vaccine may seem unnecessary as chicken pox in childhood is widely perceived as a generally mild illness. It has been common place for parents to allow their children to be exposed naturally to the illness. However now, most experts advise that the chicken pox vaccine should be widely received within schools and day centres.  

If your child gets chicken pox they are likely to develop a painful, itchy rash of blisters along with a fever and extreme tiredness. Many require antibiotics and the blisters often leave permanent scars.

It is likely that they will have time off school to recover. Indeed before the vaccine was introduced, chicken pox caused around 10, 500 sufferers to go to hospital. The vaccine has the ability to protect children from the illness and whilst no treatment is ever 100% effective for everyone, it will still reduce symptoms.  

It is estimated that about 1 in 4 pregnant women carry the Group B streptococcus infection in their vaginas or digestive system. There is a small risk that the Strep B infection can pass to the baby before or during childbirth, either through the amniotic fluid or in the birth canal during delivery.

Screening for Strep B during pregnancy allows preventative action to be taken to minimise the chance of your newborn baby developing the infection. This might include giving antibiotics during and after labour to a mother and baby where the mother has been tested positive for Strep B during pregnancy

Most pregnant women have no symptoms, which is why it is important to be screened for Strep B. 

In newborn babies the symptoms may include:

• a raised temperature
• breathing problems
• a unusually fast or slow heart beat
• seizures
• lethargy
• poor feeding

Newborn babies are more vulnerable to Step B as they have a poorly developed immune system, which puts them at more risk from the Step B bacteria spreading throughout their bodies.

You should seek immediate medical advice if you think your baby may have a group B strep infection.

At Southdowns in Emsworth and Boxgrove we offer Step B screening in pregnancy with results available in three days - call us on 01243 766447 to arrange your test.

New HPV Vaccine

Gardasil9

We are very pleased to offer the new Gardasil9 HPV vaccine which protects against cancers caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infection. Most commonly thought of in connection to cervical cancer this virus in highly contagious and can cause genital and throat cancer and genital warts in both men and women. The new Gardasil9 vaccine protects against 9 types of this cancer causing infection, as opposed to the 4 type cover of its predecessor. 

Gardasil9 is not available on the NHS so whilst the schools immunisation programme will continue to provide girls of 14 years old with the existing 4 type vaccine we are delighted to be able to offer this more extensive protection to both girls and boys.

Call us on 01243 766447  / 033 022 02000 for more information or to make an appointment