Childhood Communicable Diseases

Measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus are all infections that were once a problem in our country and made many children sick.  Some even died.  Preventing these infections is much easier now.  We have medicine now to keep us from catching these infections.  Most of the medicine is give as a “shot” in the arm.  The shot contains parts of the virus which your body will recognize and begin building protective particles called, antibodies.  These antibodies stay in your body for the rest of your life to keep you safe from the microbe. 

• The MMR shot keeps kids from getting sick with measles, mumps, or rubella.
• The DPT shots prevent diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus in children.
• And drinking a sip of polio vaccine helps prevent polio. 

These diseases are dangerous only for people who haven’t had the shots or medicine.

Chicken pox is a childhood infection which can now be prevented with a shot.  Some children still get chicken pox.  Stay away from people or families with chicken pox until their blisters are dried and healing.

Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae meningitis are serious infections that we don’t want.  There are shots to protect you from these infections, too.

Children don’t like to get shots but it is much worse if they get the infections.

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Childhood Communicable Diseases