The Sidney herald., 1962-01-24

tact with a diphtheria case or an
apparently well carrier of the di-
Sease germs.
A physician is the only person
who al tell if a child's illness is
diphtheria. If he suspects the di-
seaSe, he will have a laboratory
test made to confirm the diagnosis.
Sometimes the symptoms may be
mild, sometimes only a part of
them appear. Even mild symptoms,
indicate great danger. If the pa
tlent shows any diphtheria symp-
toms, the physician will probably
give antotoxin without waiting for
the results of the laboratory tests.
Diphtheria is always serious, and
needs prompt medical attention.
Half the cases and the most
deaths from diphtheria occur in
children under tive. Parents in
terested in their child's health
should take the baby, when he is
two to three months old to the
doctor for diphtheria immuniza-
ton. The child should get booster
shots at Is months, three years,
and just before entering school.
another booster shot should be
given at 9 and - years. Most ply
slcianS administer triple vaccine
which protects the child from diph-
iberia, whoopin2 cough, and te-
tanus. A successful immuniZation
will absolutely prevent diphtheria.
No child is completely safe until
he has been imraunized, and un-
less a high level of immunity is
maintained by booster shots.
Smallpox is n Of the most con-
tagiouS of all diseases. Persons ex-
posed to ii are almost sure to catch
it unless they have been protected
by vaccination. It is a dangerous
disease, especially for young chill
dren. Those who recover from
severe cases arc usually diSfigured
for life, with great scars or peck
marks.
The first symptoms are not al
ways the same. Usually there is
fever and headache, and often
aches and pains in the body and
limbs. In most cases, the rash APP
pears later. There may be only a
few skin LESSONS. or so many that
they run together. They show up
first in the face and then spread
to the arm and other parts of the
body, and al occur in the mouth.
nose and eyes. The sores form
crustS which fall off within 10 to
40 days. The illness differs great
ly in severity. IN severe cases.
death may occur, or if not, there
is disfiguring pitting marks or
soaring marks which remains for
life in mild cases there may be
none at all. There is no known
medicine which will cure small
poX.
Vaccination against smallpox is
a simple, safe procedure. 1t con-
Sists of placing a very small
amount of smallpox vaccine into
the skin, usually of the arm. If the
vaccination takes, a typical sore
spot develops. When it heals, prac-
tically no scar is left, if the pre-
sent multiple pressure method of
giving smallpox vaccine is used.
There is little danger of secon-
dairy infection, when the multiple
pressure method is used. This scar
means that the vaccinated person
is safe from smallpox for a period
OF from five to seven years, more
or less. Diphtheria immunization
is also a simple procedure.
Infants should be vaccinated
against smallpox before their first
birthday, unless the physician has
a good reason for delaying the
procedure. Children should be
vaccinated again before starting
school.
So, do not take chances with
diphtheria or smallpox. You can
easily protect your child by a sim
pie treatment. Remember that both
diseases are entirely preventable
through proper vaccination and
re-vaccinations.
For complete protection against
diphtheria make sure booster shots
are given according to your ply
Sician'S instructions. Smallpox
vaccinations are usually recon-
mended every 5 years. This, again
is a matter for your physician to
decide.
The important thing is to see
that each child is properly immun-
lied against both of these serious
diseases.