American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [157]
All vaccinations are given in shots, usually into the outer, upper part of the thigh or arm. Some vaccinations—such as for measles, mumps, and rubella—are combined and given in a single injection. Some vaccinations cause reactions, but they are usually mild and require no treatment other than applying cold compresses to the injection site to relieve swelling or irritation. However, if you notice any unusual symptoms in your child after a vaccination, call your doctor immediately.
Should I Have My Son Circumcised?
Circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin, the loose fold of skin that covers the head of the penis. The procedure is frequently performed for social or religious reasons on newborn boys in the United States, usually by an obstetrician or a pediatrician a day or two after birth. Circumcision is a generally safe procedure when performed by an experienced person under sterile conditions. Possible complications, such as bleeding and infection, are rare. However, only healthy infants should be circumcised shortly after birth, to avoid possible problems with blood clotting.
Circumcision is painful. For this reason, if you decide to have your infant son circumcised, ask the doctor to use a local anesthetic to help prevent pain. Circumcision performed on older boys or men requires general anesthesia. Healing can take up to 10 days.
One advantage of circumcision is a decrease in the number of urinary tract infections during childhood. A circumcised male also may have a decreased risk of cancer of the penis later in life. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend routine newborn circumcision. Before making a decision to have your son circumcised, discuss the benefits and risks of circumcision with your pediatrician.
Uncircumcised and circumcised penis
A loose fold of skin called the foreskin covers the head of an uncircumcised penis (left). During the first months or years of a boy’s life, the foreskin gradually separates from the head of the penis. In a circumcised penis (right), the foreskin has been removed and the head of the penis has been permanently exposed. Healing after a circumcision can take up to 10 days.
Q & A
Vaccinations
Q. My friend said she read that there is a link between the mumps-measles-rubella (MMR) vaccination and autism. Is this true?
A. No. There is no evidence that the MMR vaccination causes autism. Because the incidence of autism is increasing and because autism is often diagnosed at the age at which children receive the MMR vaccination, some parents have suspected that the vaccine caused the disorder. In fact, the health risks of not having the MMR vaccination outweigh any risks associated with the vaccination. For example, mumps can cause permanent hearing loss and can lead to life-threatening complications such as encephalitis and meningitis. Measles can lead to encephalitis and meningitis and can cause pneumonia. A rubella infection in a pregnant woman can cause severe birth defects.
Q. My doctor recently recommended that I have my 1-year-old son vaccinated against influenza. I thought flu vaccinations were only for children with chronic conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, and older people. Is it a good idea for my son to have a flu shot?
A. Yes. Influenza is a highly contagious, potentially life-threatening infectious disease, especially for children your son’s age. Infants and toddlers with influenza are as likely to be hospitalized for treatment of influenza-related complications (such as pneumonia) as are older people. For these reasons, the CDC recommends that all healthy children between ages 6 months and 23 months (and their family members and care-givers) be vaccinated against influenza. The initial vaccination for children is given in two separate injections about a month apart, because a single dose does not provide enough protection for young children. In addition, all children between 6 months and 18 years who