Measles & Whooping Cough: Outbreaks & Your Child

Measles is caused by a virus that can spread easily through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs and someone nearby inhales the infected droplets. It can also be transmitted by direct contact with fluids from the nose or mouth of an infected person.

Healthy lungs are crucial to your child's well-being. But, without proper protection, the lungs can get infections that could cause chronic and sometimes life-threatening illnesses.

The Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine has made most children immune. However, not all parents are choosing to vaccinate their children.

This can put many other children at serious risk.

Recent news coverage of certain TV and movie stars has exposed their decision to not vaccinate. While it is each parent's own right to do what they want, celebrities may have an impact on "regular" parents in regards to making the safest choice.

Special guest, Dr. Tanya Altmann, weighs in on this controversial issue. If you know a parent that is considering not vaccinating, this segment may just change their mind.

Measles & Whooping Cough: Outbreaks & Your Child

Featuring:

Tanya Altmann, MD

Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP, is a UCLA-trained pediatrician practicing in Southern California and the happy mother of two. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Tanya is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA and the Chief Medical Advisor for the Newborn Channel. Dr. Tanya is also a Spokesperson for American Academy of Pediatrics, approved by the national physician organization to communicate complicated medical issues into easily understood concepts.

Beyond her extensive medical work, Dr. Tanya is also an accomplished writer, authoring the best-selling book, Mommy Calls: Dr. Tanya Answers Parents' Top 101 Questions About Babies and Toddlers. She is Editor-in-Chief of the American Academy of Pediatrics' parenting book, The Wonder Years, and Associate Medical Editor of their bestselling book, Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5.

And if that isn't impressive enough, Dr. Tanya also serves as a child health expert for numerous news programs and talk shows, including Today (NBC) and KTLA 5 Morning News @9 (CW Los Angeles). She's been quoted in hundreds of periodicals including Newsweek, USA Today, Los Angeles Times and Parents magazine. Her popular parenting workshops help moms and dads through the day-to-day ups and downs of raising their kids. She responds to caregivers concerns and blogs on controversial topics for a variety of health and parenting websites including Web MD and TODAYMoms. In addition, Dr. Tanya serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Sharecare, a new interactive healthcare website.