Childhood Diseases

What diseases did you suffer in your childhood? What are their main symptoms? How did your parents treat you for this or that disease?

What is Whooping Cough?

How Is Whooping Cough Spread?

What Are the Symptoms?

What's the Treatment?

Pertussis Prevention

Everyone's had a cough before, right? Coughs often come with a cold. And they usually go away without causing too much trouble. But sometimes the illnesses that cause coughs can make kids, especially little kids and babies, really sick.

Whooping cough — also called pertussis — is one of those illnesses. It's a bacterial infection of the respiratory system, which includes your lungs and breathing tubes. Whooping cough got its name because kids who had it would cough a lot, and in between coughs they'd make a "whoop" sound when they tried to get a breath. Thousands of kids once caught whooping cough, which can be a deadly illness. But in 1906, two French scientists discovered the pertussis bacteria. That was the first step to creating a vaccine, or shot, to prevent it. Today, kids get a series of shots to protect them from getting whooping cough. Some kids still get it, but it's less common than it once was. Babies who have had none or just some of the shots in the series are particularly at risk for the illness and often have to go to the hospital if they get it. Pertussis bacteria can live in the saliva in your mouth and the mucus in your nose. Kids usually catch whooping cough by breathing in tiny droplets that are released into the air by other people's coughs and sneezes. You can't see them, but they're there. A lot of colds are spread through tiny droplets in the air, too. It's a good reason to cover your mouth and nose whenever you sneeze or cough. The first symptoms of whooping cough are like a cold — sneezing, runny nose, slight fever, and a cough that may get worse at night. But unlike a cold, whooping cough sticks around and within 2 weeks the cough gets stronger. The person has fits of coughing that seem to go on and on. In between coughs, the person may make a "whoop" sound when taking a breath. The coughing can be so bad that the person throws up. Most of the time, symptoms of whooping cough — especially the cough — can last for more than 2 months. But sometimes, kids are better within 3 to 6 weeks. If a doctor thinks a kid might have whooping cough, he or she might take a sample of mucus (snot) from the back of the kid's nose. The snot can be tested in a lab to see if there's any pertussis bacteria in it. The doctor also may order blood tests and a chest X-ray. A kid who has whooping cough will need rest, plenty of fluids to drink, and healthy food. Someone with whooping cough will need to stay home from school and probably take antibiotics (medicines that fight infections from bacteria). These medicines can keep the pertussis bacteria from infecting others. While getting better, people with whooping cough need to see a doctor to make sure their breathing and cough are improving. In addition to getting better, parents need to make sure a kid with pertussis doesn't spread it to other kids, especially babies who haven't had their pertussis vaccination yet. Pertussis can be a very serious illness for a baby. You can avoid whooping cough by getting the pertussis vaccine, called the DTaP. The shot prevents two other illnesses — diphtheria and tetanus — in addition to pertussis. Today, kids are usually given five doses of it. The first three shots are given while a kid is a baby. Another is given when a kid is a toddler and the fifth one is given between ages 4 to 6. And now, doctors want to give another shot when a kid is older — like 11 or 12 — to make sure he or she is still protected. Have you had your DTaPs? If so, whoop it up because you're protected from whooping cough!

Tonsillitis

Way in the back of your throat are your tonsils — one on the right and one on the left. These two balls of tissue are part of your body's infection-fighting system to keep you from getting sick. But what happens if these infection fighters get infected? Then you have tonsillitis. If you have tonsillitis, your throat usually hurts and it's hard to eat or drink or even swallow. You may also have a fever. Here are some other signs that bacteria or a virus are infecting your tonsils: redder-than-normal tonsils; a yellow or white coating on the tonsils; a funny-sounding voice; swollen glands in the neck; fever; bad breath. The doctor will ask you how you've been feeling and then look at your tonsils. He or she will probably use a wooden stick called a tongue depressor to help hold your tongue down to get a good look at what's going on in there. The doctor might also look into your nose and ears, listen to your chest, feel your neck, and look for other signs of infection. Both bacteria and viruses can cause tonsillitis. It's important for your doctor to know if it's strep. Strep is short for streptococci bacteria. If you have this kind of infection, you need special treatment. To check for strep, the doctor will use a long cotton swab to swipe the back of your throat. This test doesn't hurt, but it might make you gag. It's called a throat culture. It usually takes 1–2 days to get the results, but some doctors will do a similar test called a rapid strep test. Within minutes, this test will tell your doctor if there are any strep bacteria in your throat. If the tonsillitis is caused by strep bacteria, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics, a type of medicine that kills bacteria. It's very important to take the antibiotics exactly as you're supposed to and finish the entire prescription to kill all the bacteria. If the tonsillitis is caused by a virus, antibiotics won't work and your body will fight off the infection on its own. Sometimes kids get an operation to remove their tonsils, but only if their tonsils get infected a lot during the year or are so big they make it hard for the kid to breathe at night. If you get tonsillitis, here are some tips that can help you feel better:

Drink plenty of fluids.

Eat smooth foods, including flavored gelatin, soups, ice-pops, and applesauce.

Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy foods.

Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier in the room where you spend the most time.

What is Measles?

Measles, is a highly infectious disease characterized by a pink rash and a respiratory infection. People with measles are contagious several days before the rash appears and continue to be contagious until the rash and fever go away. Infants are usually protected from measles for 6 to 8 months after birth. They are protected because of the immunity that was passed on from their mothers. Measles is also called rubella. Measles is caused by a virus. Symptoms usually appear about 10 days after exposure. The most common symptoms are: cough, fever, sore throat, red or irritated eyes, runny nose, flat pink or brown rash. Some people will also experience an ear infection or pneumonia. Measles is transmitted from person to person by inhaling infected droplets. Infected droplets may come from a sneeze or cough. There is no specific treatment. Medication may be take to reduce the fever. Measles complications include: croup, bronchitis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, myocarditis, hepatitis, and encephalitis.

What is Diphtheria?

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects the tonsils, pharynx, larynx, nose, and skin. It produces a thick membrane which covers the area of inflammation. Diphtheria is a serious illness. It can lead to severe breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and death. Diphtheria was a common childhood illness in the 1930's. It is rare in the United States and other developed nations but it still occurs in underdeveloped nations. The bacteria that causes diphtheria is called Corynebacterium diphtheria. Diphtheria is transmitted from person to person through airborne droplets. The diphtheria bacterium in the airborne droplets can enter the body through the nose and mouth. It can also enter through a break in the skin. You can protect yourself from diphtheria by taking a diphtheria vaccine. The vaccine can be given to children and adults. Most Americans receive diphtheria vaccinations as a child. Booster shots are recommended for adults every 10 years.

Symptoms of diphtheria may vary from person to person. The most common symptoms are:

· sore throat

· difficulty breathing

· rapid heartbeat

· swollen lymph glands

· gray membrane covering the throat and tonsils

Diphtheria can be treated. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics and other medicines.

What is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a common illness among kids, particularly those under age 12. An itchy rash of spots that look like blisters can appear all over the body and may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms. Symptoms usually go away without treatment, but because the infection is very contagious, an infected child should stay home and rest until the symptoms are gone. Chickenpox causes a red, itchy rash on the skin that usually appears first on the abdomen or back and face, and then spreads to almost everywhere else on the body, including the scalp, mouth, nose, ears, and genitals. The rash begins as multiple small, red bumps that look like pimples or insect bites. They develop into thin-walled blisters filled with clear fluid, which becomes cloudy. The blister wall breaks, leaving open sores, which finally crust over to become dry, brown scabs. Chickenpox blisters are usually less than a quarter of an inch wide, have a reddish base, and appear in bouts over 2 to 4 days. The rash may be more extensive or severe in kids who have skin disorders such as eczema. Some kids have a fever, abdominal pain, sore throat, headache, or a vague sick feeling a day or 2 before the rash appears. These symptoms may last for a few days, and fever stays in the range of 100°–102° Fahrenheit (37.7°–38.8° Celsius), though in rare cases may be higher. Younger kids often have milder symptoms and fewer blisters than older children or adults. Typically, chickenpox is a mild illness, but can affect some infants, teens, adults, and people with weak immune systems more severely. Some people can develop serious bacterial infections involving the skin, lungs, bones, joints, and the brain (encephalitis). Even kids with normal immune systems can occasionally develop complications, most commonly a skin infection near the blisters. Doctors recommend that kids receive the chickenpox vaccine when they are 12 to 15 months old and a booster shot at 4 to 6 years old. The vaccine is about 70% to 85% effective at preventing mild infection, and more than 95% effective in preventing moderate to severe forms of the infection. Although the vaccine works pretty well, some kids who are immunized still will get chickenpox. Those who do, though, will have much milder symptoms than those who haven't had the vaccine and become infected. Healthy children who have had chickenpox do not need the vaccine — they usually have lifelong protection against the illness. A virus causes chickenpox, so the doctor won't prescribe antibiotics. However, antibiotics may be required if the sores become infected by bacteria. This is pretty common among kids because they often scratch and pick at the blisters. The antiviral medicine acyclovir may be prescribed for people with chickenpox who are at risk for complications. The drug, which can make the infection less severe, must be given within the first 24 hours after the rash appears. Acyclovir can have significant side effects, so it is only given when necessary. Your doctor can tell you if the medication is right for your child. Call your doctor if you think your child has chickenpox, if you have a question, or if you're concerned about a possible complication. The doctor can guide you in watching for complications and in choosing medication to relieve itching. When taking your child to the doctor, let the office know in advance that your child might have chickenpox. It's important to ensure that other kids in the office are not exposed — for some of them, a chickenpox infection could cause severe complications.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis requires immediate medical attention so it's important to learn its symptoms — and how they differ from a run-of-the-mill stomachache — so you can seek medical care right away. The symptoms of appendicitis (which is inflammation of the appendix) start with a mild fever and pain around the bellybutton, and can be accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. The stomach pain usually worsens and moves to the lower right side of the belly. Call your doctor immediately if you suspect that your child has appendicitis. The earlier it's caught, the easier and quicker it will be to treat. The appendix is a small finger-like organ that's attached to the large intestine in the lower right side of the abdomen. The inside of the appendix forms a cul-de-sac that usually opens into the large intestine. When that opening gets blocked, the appendix swells and can easily get infected by bacteria. If the infected appendix isn't removed, it can burst and spread bacteria and infection throughout the abdomen and lead to serious health problems. Appendicitis mostly affects kids between the ages of 11 and 20, and is rare in infants. Most cases of appendicitis occur between October and May. A family history of appendicitis may increase a child's risk, especially in males. Just about everyone knows that the legal drinking age throughout the United States is 21. But according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, almost 80% of high school students have tried alcohol. Deciding whether to drink is a personal decision that we each eventually have to make. This article provides some information on alcohol, including how it affects your body, so you can make an educated choice.

Comprehension:

1. What are the symptoms? Discuss it with your partner

	Measles	Chicken pox	Diphtheria	Tonsillitis	Whooping cough
Headache Stomachache High temperature Cough Red rash Red spots Sore throat Nausea Vomiting Rapid heartbeat Runny nose Swollen glands

1. Imagine that you’re a professional doctor. Tell your group mates what complications of chicken pox (measles, appendicitis, whooping cough, tonsillitis) you know and how to avoid them? Use as much vocabulary as you can.

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