Chicken Pox, Mumps & Measles:
Not Just for Kids!
Chicken Pox
- Fever, headache & a couple hundred itchy blisters will let you know you have it.
- Kids under 15 get it most often,but adults get it, too & their symptoms can be worse.
- A chicken pox vaccine is the best way to prevent it.
- Serious cases can lead to dehydration, pneumonia & even brain infections, so call
your doctor if you think you might have the chicken pox.
Mumps
- A doctor can test to see if you have it, but there’s not much he can do after that.
- Time & rest are the only remedies.
- Mumps can cause fever, muscle aches & swollen glands in your cheeks & under your jaw.
- Stay away from other people for at least a week to avoid spreading it.
- The MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine can prevent it.
Measles
- This can bring on a high fever, rash, runny nose, pink & watery eyes, coughing, diarrhea
& an earache. - You can protect yourself against it with the MMR vaccine.
- That’s extra important if you travel to places where it’s more common.
Lice
- These tiny insects feed on blood from your scalp.
- Gross & disturbing? Yes.
- But also pretty harmless, since they don’t carry diseases.
- Anyone can get head lice, but adults get it less often because a layer of acid develops on
your scalp to help protect you.
Strep Throat
- A sore throat usually goes away on its own, but if it’s strep, you'll probably need antibiotics,
used mainly to relieve symptoms & prevent complications. - Your doctor will take a swab of your throat to see if you have it.
- Though it's most common in kids, adults get it, too.
- It can cause fever, nausea, vomiting & swollen tonsils.
- Best way to avoid it - Wash those hands!
Pinkeye
- You doctor might call this conjunctivitis.
- It can cause itchy, irritated & burning eyes, sensitivity to light & crust on your eyelids.
- It usually gets better on its own, but it’s highly contagious, so see a doctor.
- To keep it from spreading, wash your hands often & don’t touch your eyes.
Whooping Cough
- This bacterial disease is also called pertussis & it’s most contagious before coughing
starts. - Babies have the highest rate of whooping cough-related deaths & they often get the
condition from siblings, parents & grandparents. - A vaccine is the best way to prevent it.
Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease
- It's most common in kids under 5 & it usually isn’t serious.
- Symptoms can include fever, sore throat & lack of appetite, followed by sores in your
throat & a rash on your hands & feet. - Adults don’t always have symptoms, but they can still pass the virus on.
- It usually clears up without treatment in 7 to 10 days.
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