Know the traitor disease

Ignorance is dangerous, especially with IPD. Knowledge about this dreaded disease is the key to preventing it. So, know the Traitor Disease and save your child's life.

• What is IPD?

IPD or Invasive Pneumoccocal Disease is a fatal disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus Pneumoniae. It could take your child within 48 hours. IPD could come in the form of bacteremia, meningitis, bacteremic pneumonia or sepsis. All are equally life-threatening.

• Who are susceptible to it?

Children 2 years and below are most likely to contract IPD. In fact, 90% of its victims are below 5 years old, 78% of whom are below 2 years of age. The younger the victim, the more fatal the disease is.

• How can my child contract it?

IPD is an airborne disease and is thus contracted by just being near an infected person. A cough or sneeze may infect your child.

• What are its symptoms?

The first signs of IPD start out as coughs and colds which then lead to high fever and eventually, to shock. Complications include infection of the intestines and vomiting. In severe cases, your child may fall into a coma and die after 48 hours.

• How fatal is it?

More than a million children die of IPD every year. What makes the Traitor Disease so dangerous is that it can remain undetected until it's too late. By the time you realize your child has it, he usually has only 48 hours left to live. If he does survive, he can suffer severe brain damage that can lead to retardation.

• Is there a cure?

The only known treatment for IPD is antibiotics, but these do not ensure that your child will survive. In fact, very few survive the complications that result from IPD, even with antibiotics. The only real solution is prevention.

• How can it be prevented?

Mercifully, there is a vaccine available to fight this dreaded disease, but it should be administered at an early age to make it more effective. Ask your doctor about it. The earlier you know, the better you can protect your child.