Tetanus

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T.B
Tetanus
Meningitis
Polio
Diptheria
Measles
Rubella
Mumps
Whooping cough
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Vaccination is the best way to protect against
tetanus. Due to widespread immunization, tetanus
is now a rare disease in the U.S. A combination
shot, called the Td vaccine, protects against
both tetanus and diphtheria. A Td booster shot is
recommended every 10 years. Adults who have never
received immunization against tetanus should
start with a 3-dose primary series given over
7-12 months.
Tetanus
Common first signs of tetanus are a headache and
muscular stiffness in the jaw (lockjaw) followed
by stiffness of the neck, difficulty in
swallowing, rigidity of abdominal muscles,
spasms, sweating and fever.
What is tetanus?Tetanus, commonly called
lockjaw, is a bacterial disease that affects the
nervous system. It is contracted through a cut or
wound that becomes contaminated with tetanus
bacteria. The bacteria can get in through even a
tiny pinprick or scratch, but deep puncture
wounds or cuts like those made by nails or knives
are especially susceptible to infection with
tetanus. Tetanus bacteria are present worldwide
and are commonly found in soil, dust and manure.
Infection with tetanus causes severe muscle
spasms, leading to "locking" of the jaw so the
patient cannot open his/her mouth or swallow, and
may even lead to death by suffocation. Tetanus is
not transmitted from person to person.
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Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges,
the membranes that cover the brain and spinal
cord. The inflammation is usually caused by
bacteria or viruses (viral meningitis is also
called aseptic meningitis). Less common causes
include fungi, protozoa, and other parasites.
Sometimes certain medications, cancers, or other
diseases can inflame the meninges, although such
non-infectious cases of meningitis are much
rarer.
Meningitis
Many of the bacteria or viruses that can cause
meningitis are fairly common and are more often
associated with other everyday illnesses.
Sometimes, however, they spread to the meninges
from an infection in another part of the body.
The infection can start anywhere, including in
the skin, gastrointestinal tract, or urinary
system, but the most common source is the
respiratory tract. From there the microorganisms
can enter the bloodstream, travel through the
body, and enter the central nervous system. In
some cases of bacterial meningitis, the bacteria
spread directly to the meninges from a severe
nearby infection, such as a serious ear infection
(otitis media) or nasal sinus infection
(sinusitis). Bacteria may also enter the central
nervous system after severe head trauma or head
surgery.
The first symptoms of meningitis may surface
several days after a child has had a cold and
runny nose, diarrhoea and vomiting, or other
signs of a bacterial or viral infection. Some of
the more common symptoms of meningitis include
fever, lethargy (decreased consciousness), or
irritability. Older children may complain of a
headache, photophobia (eye sensitivity to light),
and a stiff neck, which is often noted by the
doctor during a physical exam.
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria
called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria
usually attack the lungs. But, TB bacteria can
attack any part of the body such as the kidney,
spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB
disease can be fatal. TB disease was once the
leading cause of death in the United States.
TB is spread through the air from one person to
another. The bacteria are put into the air when a
person with active TB disease of the lungs or
throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may
breathe in these bacteria and become infected.
T.B
However, not everyone infected with TB bacteria
becomes sick. People who are not sick have what
is called latent TB infection. People who have
latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have
any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others.
But, some people with latent TB infection go on
to get TB disease.
People with active TB disease can be treated and
cured if they seek medical help. Even better,
people with latent TB infection can take medicine
so that they will not develop active TB disease.
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Polio was one of the most dreaded childhood
diseases of the 20th Century in the United
States.  An epidemic in 1916 killed 6,000 people
and left 27,000 more paralyzed.  In the 1950's,
parents refused to let their children go to
movies or go swimming for fear of catching the
disease.
Some children who get polio dont feel ill at
all.   For others, polio simply feels like a
cold, with symptoms appearing about 6-20 days
after exposure.  Sometimes these children will
also feel some pain and stiffness in their neck,
back, and legs, but this soon goes away.
However, some children who get polio become
paralyzed that is, they lose the use of their
muscles.  This is called paralytic polio.  
Paralytic polio can start like a common cold, but
often with severe muscle pain.  Paralysis usually
comes within the first week.  Most often it
affects the childs legs, but sometimes it
affects other muscles including those that
control breathing.  Some children recover from
their paralysis, but many will be permanently
disabled. There is no treatment for polio, and
some children die from it.
Polio
Polio is caused by a virus that lives in the
throat and intestinal tract. It is spread through
contact with the bowel movements of an infected
person (for instance, by changing diapers).
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There is no specific treatment for measles.
Measles is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable
disease caused by the measles virus, a member of
the genus Morbillivirus in the family
paramyxoviridae. It is spread by droplets or
direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of
infected persons less commonly by airborne
spread or by articles freshly soiled with
secretions of nose and throat. Measles is one of
the most readily transmitted communicable
diseases and probably the best known and most
deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses.
People get measles when they breathe in tiny
droplets that contain the measles virus. The
virus attaches to the lining of the airways,
multiplies, and causes disease. People can also
be infected by direct contact with fluid from the
nose or mouth of an infected person.
The measles virus is found worldwide. The virus
multiplies in cells of the respiratory tract in
infected persons and is released into fluids of
the nose, throat, and mouth.
Measles (also known as rubeola and 10-day,
hard and red measles) is a serious disease
that causes fever, rash, and other complications.
Measles is caused by a virus and spreads very
easily from person to person. Do not confuse this
illness with rubella which is sometimes called
German or 3-day measles.
Measles
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Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that spreads
easily and occurs quickly. It mainly affects the
nose and throat. Children under 5 years old and
adults over 60 are particularly at risk for
contracting the infection. People living in
crowded or unclean conditions, those that aren't
well nourished, and children and adults who don't
have up-to-date immunizations are also at risk.
Preventing diphtheria depends almost completely
on immunizing children with the
diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTP or DTaP)
vaccine and non-immunized adults with the
diphtheria/tetanus vaccine (DT). Most cases of
diphtheria occur in people who haven't received
the vaccine at all or haven't received the entire
course.
Diptheria
The toxin, or poison, caused by the bacteria can
lead to a thick coating in the nose, throat, or
airway. This coating is usually fuzzy grey or
black and can cause breathing problems and
difficulty in swallowing. The formation of this
coating (or membrane) in the nose, throat, or
airway makes a diphtheria infection different
from other more common infections (such as strep
throat) that cause sore throat.
In cases that progress beyond a throat infection,
diphtheria toxin spreads through the bloodstream
and can lead to potentially life-threatening
complications that affect other organs of the
body, such as the heart and kidneys. The toxin
can cause damage to the heart that affects its
ability to pump blood or the kidneys' ability to
clear wastes. It can also cause nerve damage,
eventually leading to paralysis. Up to 40 to 50
of those who don't get treated can die.
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After a case of mumps it is very unusual to have
a second bout because one attack of mumps almost
always gives lifelong protection against another.
However, other infections can also cause swelling
in the salivary glands, which might lead a parent
to mistakenly think a child has had mumps more
than once.
Mumps is a disease caused by a virus that usually
spreads through saliva and can infect many parts
of the body, especially the parotid salivary
glands. The parotid salivary glands, which
produce saliva for the mouth, are found toward
the back of each cheek, in the area between the
ear and jaw. In cases of mumps, these glands
typically swell and become painful.
Cases of mumps may start with a fever of up to
103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 degrees Celsius), as
well as a headache and loss of appetite. The
well-known hallmark of mumps is swelling and pain
in the parotid glands, making the child look like
a hamster with food in its cheeks. The glands
usually become increasingly swollen and painful
over a period of 1 to 3 days. The pain gets worse
when the child swallows, talks, chews, or drinks
acidic juices (like orange juice).
Mumps
Mumps can lead to inflammation and swelling of
the brain and other organs, although this is not
common. Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
and meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the
brain and spinal cord) are both rare
complications of mumps. Symptoms appear in the
first week after the parotid glands begin to
swell and may include high fever, stiff neck,
headache, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness,
convulsions, and other signs of brain
involvement.
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Rubella can be prevented with a safe, effective
vaccine.
Rubella
You cannot get rubella from the rubella vaccine.
Rubella, also called German measles, is caused by
a virus that is spread from person to person when
an infected person coughs or sneezes. Rubella is
also spread by direct contact with the nasal or
throat secretions of an infected person. If a
pregnant woman gets rubella during the first 3
months of pregnancy, her baby is at risk of
having serious birth defects or dying.
There is a safe and effective vaccine to protect
against rubella. The vaccine is frequently given
to adults as part of a combination vaccine,
called the MMR vaccine, that protects against
measles, mumps and rubella. There is also a
vaccine that protects against rubella only.
Symptoms of rubella may include a rash, slight
fever, aching joints, headaches, discomfort,
runny nose and reddened eyes. The rash first
appears on the face and spreads from head to toe.
The lymph nodes just behind the ears and at the
back of the neck may swell, causing soreness and
pain. Many people with rubella have few or no
symptoms, and only about half of the people who
have the disease get a rash. In most cases of
rubella, symptoms appear within 16-18 days after
exposure.
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Whooping cough (pertussis) is still a very
serious disease when it occurs in children under
the age of one year old. But thanks to an
effective vaccine and prevention against
infection, it is now quite rare.
Before the vaccination against whooping cough was
introduced, three out of four children caught the
disease and some died every year. Today only a
few get whooping cough.
Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria
(Bordetella pertussis) and is one of the most
contagious bacterial infections.
The infection is transferred through airborne
droplets when an infected person coughs. Anyone
who has not been vaccinated is highly likely to
contract the disease just by spending time in the
same room as an infected person.
The disease begins with a cold and a mild cough.
After this, the typical coughing bouts set in.
The coughing continues until no air is left in
the lungs. After this comes a deep intake of
breath that produces a heaving, 'whooping' sound
when the air passes the larynx (windpipe) that
gives rise to the name of the disease.
Whooping cough
The patient will eventually cough up some phlegm
and these attacks may well be followed by
vomiting. The child's temperature is likely to
remain normal.
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