http://www.wechealthunit.org daily 1 2007-05-08T21:19:14Z http://www.wechealthunit.org/diseases-conditions/glossary/rubella Rubella is usually a mild illness in children, only half will develop a rash. The concern is for pregnant women. If a woman gets rubella early in her pregnancy, the baby could die or be born severely handicapped. For more information on the rubella outbreak in Southwestern Ontario, click on the reliable links below: - Middlesex-London Health Unit: Rubella Identified in Middlesex-London - Ontario Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care: More than 80 cases of Rubella Confirmed - Oxford Health Unit: Rubella Outbreak - Ontario Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care: Immunization: Measles, Mumps & Rubella Vaccine No publisher Mike 2006-08-30T20:35:02Z Glossary definition http://www.wechealthunit.org/diseases-conditions/glossary/fifth-disease A mild respiratory infection. Caused by: A human virus called Human Parvovirus B19. Symptoms: Some people will have no symptoms. A small number of people (15% to 30%) will have a fever. The majority of people will feel symptoms of malaise (feeling unwell), headache, muscle ache and a rash. The facial rash is a red, "slapped cheek" appearance, with a white area around the mouth. It is followed by a "lace-like" rash that usually starts on the body and extends to the arms, buttocks and thighs. Some children complain of itchiness. The rash may become more intense following a warm bath, exercise or exposure to the sun. It usually lasts for about a week. Incubation: The time between coming in contact with the virus and the symptoms beginning can range from 4 to 20 days. Treatment: No specific treatment. Communicable: This disease is most contagious before the development of the rash. Transmitted by: Someone who is sick with this disease can pass it on to others by sneezing, coughing, singing or speaking to them (direct contact with respiratory secretions or droplets). An infected pregnant woman could possibly pass it on to her baby. Complications: There is some risk to the fetus if a pregnant woman develops fifth disease. Other: There are other diseases that have a red rash, such as rubella, scarlet fever and erythema multiforme. However, children with Fifth disease may attend school if they feel well enough. Only half of everyone exposed to fifth disease will get it. It is recommended for women planning to become pregnant to have their immune status to Rubella and Fifth Disease checked. Most adults have immunity to Fifth by the age of 15. Pregnant women in contact with preschool and school aged children have a low risk of becoming infected with virus. Prevention: Careful, frequent hand washing and throwing away used facial tissues is a very important way to prevent spreading of this disease. Download: Fifth Disease Fact Sheet No publisher Mike Fifth Disease 2007-06-21T19:13:53Z Glossary definition http://www.wechealthunit.org/immunizations/travel-clinic/articles/travel-and-immunization-clinic-price-list No publisher mkingsley 2007-06-27T14:40:03Z Page http://www.wechealthunit.org/immunizations/articles/immunization-requirements-for-school-registration No publisher mkingsley 2008-09-10T16:03:38Z Article http://www.wechealthunit.org/diseases-conditions/glossary/ploneglossarydefinition.2008-04-23.6777825892 What are measles? Measles (red measles) is a severe illness caused by a virus and is very contagious. It usually occurs in young children, but anyone who is not protected can be infected with measles. Most people recover from infection, but measles can have serious complications and lead to long-term health problems. Since the widespread use of the measles vaccine, measles is very rare. Over the past five years, there has been an average of 10 measles cases each year in Canada. How do you get measles? Measles is spread when a person comes in contact with an infected person. It’s spread through tiny drops that are released into the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Measles is one of the easiest viruses to spread from person to person. Unlike the flu virus, the measles virus can’t survive for very long on objects like doorknobs and telephones. If you or your child has measles then you must limit contact with others as much as possible , which includes staying home from work or school. This will help protect them from infection. What are the symptoms? It’s important to detect measles as soon as possible, since the disease is contagious at an early stage. An infected person is contagious one day before symptoms start until four days after the rash appears. Measles symptoms appear in two stages. First stage symptoms: • Runny nose • Cough • Red and watery eyes that are sensitive to light • Slight fever Second stage symptoms: • Starts three to seven days after first symptoms • High fever (as high as 40°C or 104°F) • Red rash, first on the face and then moving down the body, legs, and arms Another symptom of measles is the presence of small, red, irregular spots that develop on the inside of the cheeks, near the back teeth. Each spot will have a whitish or bluish centre. These spots are a sure sign of measles and appear about two days after first stage symptoms, which is about two days before the rash develops. The presence of these spots is usually enough for a doctor to make a diagnosis. What are the complications? People with measles may become quite ill, but most people recover completely. However, complications may include: Ear infection. Measles causes an ear infection in nearly one out of every 10 children. Encephalitis. About one in 1,000 people with measles develops encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, which may cause vomiting, convulsions and, rarely, coma. Encephalitis can occur shortly after infection or it can occur years later during the teen years. This late form, called Dawson’s encephalitis, is rare. Pneumonia. An infection that causes inflammation in the lungs. As many as one in 15 people with measles gets pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. Diarrhea or vomiting. These complications are more common in infants and small children. Bronchitis, laryngitis. Measles may lead to inflammation of your voice box (larynx) or inflammation of the inner walls that line the main air passageways of your lungs (bronchial tubes). Pregnancy problems. Pregnant women need to take special care to avoid measles, because the disease can cause miscarriage, premature labor, or babies with low birth weights. Who is at risk of getting measles? Anyone who hasn’t had the disease or been immunized can get measles. Infants are most at risk because immunity passed from their mother at birth decreases after six months of age. How is measles treated? Like the common cold, measles is something that the body will fight off and will go away with time. There are no drugs that can kill the virus, so the only useful treatments are those that help relieve symptoms. For example, drugs like acetaminophen can reduce fever and other symptoms. However, supportive care in hospital may be needed for severe infections but most people infected with measles can recover at home. Malnourished children in developing countries are often given large doses of vitamin A to shorten the length of the disease and reduce complications. In North America, very few children suffer from vitamin A deficiency, so it’s rarely used here. If you think you have measles call your health care provider before going for your visit. The office can then prepare for your arrival so the infection is not passed on to others. What can I do to prevent measles? The best way to prevent the measles is to get a vaccine and to keep all your vaccinations up-to-date. The measles vaccine is commonly given in the same shot as the mumps and rubella vaccine, in what is commonly known as MMR. Two doses of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine are recommended for children. One dose is given on or after the first birthday; the second dose should be given after 15 months of age but before school. A second dose of MMR vaccine is also recommended for Canadians at greatest risk of exposure, such as travellers to measles-endemic areas, health care workers, and students at post-secondary institutions. Speak to your health care provider regarding the status of your immunization. For mothers who’ve already had measles, their newborn babies are protected for about a year due to the transfer of special antibodies from the mother’s immune system. Because of this, the measles vaccine may not work in a child’s first year of life. For more information visit: Healthy Ontario Hospital for Sick Children WECHU Guide to Common Infections References: Heymann, D.L. (2004). Control of communicable diseases manual, 18th ed. Washington: American Public Health Association. Ontario Ministry of Health. (2008). Measles. Retrieved on March 20, 2008 from www.healthyontario.com/ConditionDetails.aspx?disease_id=179 Public Health Agency of Canada. (2008). Vaccine-preventable diseases: measles. Retrieved on March 20, 2008 from www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/vpd-mev/measles-eng.php No publisher mkingsley 2008-04-23T16:50:01Z Glossary definition http://www.wechealthunit.org/workplace-health/health-topics/infection-protection-fall-06/vaccinations No publisher mkingsley Immunizations 2007-06-21T14:38:37Z Page http://www.wechealthunit.org/workplace-health/initiatives/links/websites-of-infection-protection A list of local, provincial, national, and international websites are provided. These websites offer more information on infection protection. No publisher kmorse 2007-05-04T19:36:50Z Article