| prophylactic | Preventive measure or medication. (16 Dec 1997) |
|---|---|
| prophylactic cranial irradiation | Radiation therapy to the head to prevent cancer from spreading to the brain. (12 Dec 1998) |
| prophylactic mastectomy | <procedure, surgery> Surgery to remove a breast before it has cancer. (16 Dec 1997) |
| prophylactic membrane | A layer of pus cells lining an abscess cavity which have not yet autolyzed. Synonym: prophylactic membrane. (05 Mar 2000) |
| prophylactic treatment | The institution of measures designed to protect a person from an attack of a disease to which he has been, or is liable to be exposed. Synonym: preventive treatment. (05 Mar 2000) |
| active immunization | The production of active immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anthrax immunization | A series of six shots over six months and booster shots annually, the anthrax vaccine now in use in the USA was first developed in the 1950s and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for general use in 1970. It is produced by the Michigan Biologic Products Institute of Michigan's Department of Health and is given routinely to veterinarians and others working with livestock. In December, 1997 it was announced that all US military would receive the vaccine, as do the military in the UK and Russia, the reason being concern that anthrax might be used in biologic warfare. (12 Dec 1998) |
| german measles immunization | The standard MMR vaccine is given to prevent measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). The MMR vaccine is now given in two dosages. The first should be given at12-15 months of age. The second vaccination should be given at 4-6 years (or, alternatively, 11-12 years) of age. most colleges require proof of a second measles or MMR vaccination prior to entrance. Most children should receive MMR vaccinations. Exceptions may include children born with an inability to fight off infection, some children with cancer, on treatment with radiation or drugs for cancer, on long term steroids (cortisone). People with severe allergic reactions to eggs or the drug neomycin should probably avoid the MMR vaccine. Pregnant women should wait until after delivery before being immunised with MMR. People with HIV or AIDS should normally receive MMR vaccine. Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines may be administered as individual shots, if necessary, or as a measles-rubella combination. (12 Dec 1998) |
| passive immunization | The production of passive immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| measles immunization | The standard MMR vaccine is given to prevent measles, mumps and rubella (german measles). The mmr vaccine is now given in two dosages. The first should be given at12-15 months of age. The second vaccination should be given at 4-6 years (or, alternatively, 11-12 years) of age. most colleges require proof of a second measles or mmr vaccination prior to entrance. Most children should receive mmr vaccinations. Exceptions may include children born with an inability to fight off infection, some children with cancer, on treatment with radiation or drugs for cancer, on long term steroids (cortisone). People with severe allergic reactions to eggs or the drug neomycin should probably avoid the mmr vaccine. Pregnant women should wait until after delivery before being immunised with mmr. People with HIV or aids should normally receive mmr vaccine. Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines may be administered as individual shots, if necessary, or as a measles-rubella combination. (12 Dec 1998) |
| chickenpox immunization | This vaccine prevents the common disease known as chickenpox (varicella zoster). While chickenpox is often considered a trivial illness, it can cause significant lost time on the job and in school and have serious complications including ear infections, pneumonia, and infection of the rash with bacteria, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) leading to difficulty with balance and coordination (cerebellar ataxia), damaged nerves (palsies), and Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal complication. The vaccination requires only one shot given at about a year of age. If an older person has not had chickenpox, the shot may be given at any time. There have been few significant reactions to the chickenpox vaccine. All children, except those with a compromised immune system, should have the vaccination. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rubella immunization | The standard MMR vaccine is given to prevent measles, mumps and rubella (german measles). The mmr vaccine is now given in two dosages. The first should be given at12-15 months of age. The second vaccination should be given at 4-6 years (or, alternatively, 11-12 years) of age. most colleges require proof of a second measles or mmr vaccination prior to entrance. Most children should receive mmr vaccinations. Exceptions may include children born with an inability to fight off infection, some children with cancer, on treatment with radiation or drugs for cancer, on long term steroids (cortisone). People with severe allergic reactions to eggs or the drug neomycin should probably avoid the mmr vaccine. Pregnant women should wait until after delivery before being immunised with mmr. People with HIV or aids should normally receive mmr vaccine. Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines may be administered as individual shots, if necessary, or as a measles-rubella combination. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mumps immunization | The standard MMR vaccine is given to prevent measles, mumps and rubella (german measles). The mmr vaccine is now given in two dosages. The first should be given at12-15 months of age. The second vaccination should be given at 4-6 years (or, alternatively, 11-12 years) of age. most colleges require proof of a second measles or mmr vaccination prior to entrance. Most children should receive mmr vaccinations. Exceptions may include children born with an inability to fight off infection, some children with cancer, on treatment with radiation or drugs for cancer, on long term steroids (cortisone). People with severe allergic reactions to eggs or the drug neomycin should probably avoid the mmr vaccine. Pregnant women should wait until after delivery before being immunised with mmr. People with HIV or aids should normally receive mmr vaccine. Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines may be administered as individual shots, if necessary, or as a measles-rubella combination. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pneumococcal pneumonia immunization | This vaccine, which prevents one of the most common and severe forms of pneumonia, is usually given only once in a lifetime, usually after the age of 55, to someone with ongoing lung problems (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma) or other chronic diseases (including those involving the heart and kidneys). This vaccination would rarely be given to children. (12 Dec 1998) |
| polio immunization | <virology> The vaccines available for vaccination against polio are opv (oral polio vaccine) and ipv (inactivated polio vaccine). Opv is still the preferred vaccine for most children. As its name suggests, it is given by mouth. Ipv, or inactivated polio vaccine is given as a shot in the arm or leg. Infants and children should be given four doses of opv. The doses are given at 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months and 4-6 years of age. Persons allergic to eggs or the drugs neomycin or streptomycin should receive opv, not the injectable ipv. Conversely, ipv should be given if the vaccine recipient is on long-term steroid (cortisone) therapy, has cancer, or is on chemotherapy or if a household member has aids or there is an unimmunised adult in the house. (21 Jun 1999) |