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Show EXTINCT? Not Childhood Diseases! Children are born with a natural immunity to dis- ease. It’s nature’s way of starting them off on the right track. Unfortunately, natural immunity doesn’t last forever. The only way to ensure a childhood free from dangerous diseasesis to immunize against: polio, measles, mumps,rubella, diphthe- ria, pertussis, tetanus, haemophilus influenza b, and hepatitis B. Children not protected through immunizations stiffness. The jaw, neck, and limbs become locked in spasm. Convulsions may cause heart failure or suffocation. PERTUSSISPertussis or whopping coughis caused by bacteria found in the mouth, nose, and throat of an infected person. At first, the disease resembles a common coid, accompanied byanirritating cough. The coughincreasesin intensity and occurs in violent and prolonged spasmswith high- can experience needless suffering, complications and even death. With the exception of tetanus, pitched sounds between spasms. Severe cases result in convulsions, collapse of the lungs, pneu- these diseasesare very contagious. In recent monia, and brain damage. MEASLESMeasles,also called rubella, red measles, hard measles, and nine or ten day years, the percentage of children immunized against the preventable childhood diseases has declined. As long as millions of children remain unprotected, serious outbreaks of disease will con- measles, is perhaps the most serious of the com- tinue to occur. Whyriska lifetime of good health? a bad cold and a high temperature, followed by a Vaccines are amongthe safest and mosteffective blotchy, red rash. Complications can cause pneumonia, blindness, deafness, brain damage, and even death. MUMPSMumpsvirus is spread by person-to- medicines. Yet, like most medicines, vaccines may cause a slight side effect-a small fever, a sore arm, or a mild rash. Only on rare occasions are mon childhood diseases. The disease begins with they more serious. The overwhelming majority of person contact and mayresult in fever, headache, medical experts believe that the benefits far out- earache, and painfully swollen glands in the face and neck. The disease can cause deafness, diabetes, and brain damage, but disabling complica- weigh the risks. VACCINATE! The facts below explain what you should bout these dangerousdiseases. POLIO Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) is a viral disease that often cripples and sometimeskills. When symptomsare present, they include fever, sore throat, nausea, headache, stomach ache, and pain andstiffness in the neck, back, and legs. There is no specific treatment for polio and the degree of recovery varies from patient to patient. DIPHTHERIADiphtheria developsin the throat. Early symptomsinclude a sore throat, a slight fever, and chills. If left untreated, the disease can interfere with swallowing and block the passage of air, causing suffocation. The bacteria may produce a poison which results in heart failure and pneumonia. TETANUSTetanus, commonlycalled lockjaw, occurs in children and adults with about the same frequency. The bacteria, most commonly foundin the soil, generally enters the body through deep tions are rare. In teenage and adult males, however, mumpscan causesterility. RUBELLA Also called German measies, rubella symptomsinclude a slight fever and often a rash. Recovery is almost always speedy and complete. However, rubella can have serious effects on a pregnant woman who maycatch the disease from a child. Rubella can cause a miscarriage or lead to birth defects in the baby. HAEMOPHILUSinfluenza b (Hib) is caused by a bacterium and can cause serious disease such as “meningitis” (inflammation of the membrane cover- ing the brain), especially in children less than 5 years old. Severe Haemophilusinfluenza b is most commonin children between 6 months and 1 year of age. Haemophilus influenza b can also cause pneumonia andinfections of other body systems such as blood, joints, soft tissue, throat, and the covering of the heart. puncture wounds andlacerations. Disease symp- toms include headache, irritability, and muscular See EXTINCT on page 29 |
