The bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae causes potentially serious illnesses, including pneumonia, middle ear infections, meningitis and bacteremia (infection of the blood), and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) causes nearly 1...
The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is one of two vaccines used to prevent infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae, bacteria that cause middle ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis and bacteremia (infection in the blood). Infections caused by...
The flu, or influenza, vaccine contains a number of ingredients, including preservatives, material of the virus it is protecting against and other agents to assist in the efficacy of the shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...
Saponins are phytochemicals that foam up when they're shaken in water, similar to detergent. Each saponin consists of a sugar group linked to either a steroid or triterpene group. They have a bitter flavor and are found in oats, legumes, potatoes,...
Squalene is a natural substance most commonly known as fish oil and shark liver oil when put in supplement form. However, many people don't realize this substance is actually in our bloodstream, originating in the liver. In addition to its uses in...
There are currently two vaccines approved for use in preventing meningococcal meningitis which is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. The vaccines are the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) and the meningococcal polysaccharide...
Squalene is derived from either the liver oil of deep-water sharks or from olive oil, and is often used in the manufacturing of cosmetic products and vaccines. Squalene acts as an emollient or hydrating agent in cosmetics and is also used to...
Tetanus, a disease caused by the toxin, tetanospasmin, kills one out of every 10 people, according to "Mosby’s Drug Consult." Clostridium tetani bacteria exist in soil as spores and can enter the body via puncture wounds, such as...
The flu virus mutates frequently, so flu shot components change seasonally. Scientists can never be certain which flu strains will affect a given geographic region. To combat this, vaccine manufacturers use several different flu strains in the...
Keeping your baby's immune system strong and healthy is the best way to prevent infections from any of the millions of germs she is exposed to every day. A strong immune system will also reduce your baby's chances of suffering an adverse vaccine...
Meningitis is a serious and sometimes life-threatening disease. MayoClinic.com notes that viral, bacterial and fungal infections can all cause meningitis. Since the seriousness of the impact of meningitis varies from person to person, vaccines...
Hepatitis B is a viral infection affecting the liver and is spread by contact with blood, semen or other bodily fluids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million people in the United...
