Know Your Germs!

What is measles?

Measles is a virus that begins inside of the body and works its way to the outside. The virus first grows unseen inside the throat and/or lungs.

How do I know if I have measles?

If you have the following symptoms, you may have measles.

• Little red spots with gray tops inside the cheeks and throat
• Conjunctivitis ("pink eye")
• Skin rash
• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Swollen gland

How does someone catch measles?

The virus is so tough that if an infected person sneezes measles virus out onto a surface (like a desk or door handle), it can live there for up to 2 hours!

How do I stay safe and avoid getting measles?

Get vaccinated and always remember to keep your hands clean. Good hand washing means washing your hands for 15 seconds every time.

What is Rotavirus?

Rotavirus is very common—almost everyone has had it by the time they are five years old! It is the leading cause of diarrhea (YUCK!) in children.

How do I know if I have rotavirus?

If you have the following symptoms, you may have rotavirus:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Frequent, watery diarrhea

How does someone catch rotavirus?

Rotavirus is very contagious, which means you can catch it really easily. It's seen most often in the winter and spring months, especially in places where there are a lot of kids.

How do I stay safe and avoid getting rotavirus?

Doctors want babies to get vaccinated for rotavirus, but the best way to keep from catching it is to wash your hands often. Good hand washing means washing for 15 seconds every time.

What is Meningitis?

Meningitis is an infection caused by two different kinds of germs: a virus or bacteria. It causes the membranes (very thin coverings) of the brain and spinal cord to swell up.

How do I know if I have meningitis?

If you have the following symptoms, you may have meningitis:

• High Fever
• Stiff Neck
• Headache

Sometimes you can also have:

• Nausea and Vomiting
• Discomfort looking into bright lights
• Confusion (or being "out of it")
• Sleepiness

How does someone catch bacterial meningitis?

Luckily, meningitis is not as easy to catch as the cold or flu, because it can't spread through air or from touching someone who has it. But it is spread through contact with spit! So don't let anyone sneeze or cough on you, and remember to sneeze into your sleeve, too. Plus, be careful to avoid sloppy kisses!

How do I stay safe and avoid getting meningitis?

The Hib vaccine will keep you safe from meningitis. Also, if someone you know has bacterial meningitis you can take antibiotic medication to keep from getting it.

What is Tetanus?

Tetanus is a bacteria that hangs out in places like dirt or soil, and in the bowels (intestines) of animals and people.

How do I know if I have tetanus?

If you have severe muscle spasms starting around the neck, chest and back you may have tetanus. If it gets really bad, it can cause such intense stiffness that sometimes infected people cannot open their mouths. That’s why tetanus is also called “lockjaw.”

How does someone catch tetanus?

Tetanus attacks through any break in the skin, like a cut, scrape or burn. (But you can’t catch it from someone else who has it. WHEW!)

How do I stay safe and avoid getting tetanus?

The tetanus vaccine (DTaP) is give with two others, diphtheria and pertussis. It’s pretty much 100% effective, and hardly anyone in the U.S. gets tetanus. But don’t forget to get a booster shot every 10 years!

What is Croup?

Kids with croup usually get it from a virus like the flu. It causes the vocal chords to swell up, and it can make you bark when you cough—like a seal!

How do I know if I have croup?

It might seem like you only have a small cold for a few days, but then you start barking like a seal.

How does someone catch croup?

There are a lot of things that might cause croup, but the most common is a virus.

How do I stay safe and avoid getting croup?

There’s no vaccine for croup yet, but scientists are working on one! Meanwhile, keep your hands clean and get the flu shot every year.

What is Polio?

Polio is a viral infection of the bowel (intestines) that can sometimes make people unable to move parts of their bodies. (But most people don’t even know they have it.) The good news is that polio is pretty much gone from the whole Western Hemisphere thanks to the vaccine!

How do I know if I have polio?

There are four different kinds of polio:

• Asymptomatic, which means you have no symptoms at all
• Paralytic polio, where you can’t move parts of your body
• Nonparalytic polio, which is like meningitis and causes neck stiffness and sensitivity to light
• Abortive polio, which feels like the flu

How does someone catch polio?

Polio is spread through contaminated water and accidentally coming in contact with stool (poop!).

How do I stay safe and avoid getting polio?

Polio was knocked out in the United States in 1979 thanks to the vaccine. But if you have any travel plans to Africa or Asia, double-check that you’ve had your shots!

What is Influenza?

That's just a fancy way of saying "the flu." It's caused by a virus, not bacteria.

How do I know if I have inflenza?

Sometimes the flu is confused with a common cold. You'll know the difference because it comes on a lot faster and the symptoms are worse. You might have:

• Chills
• Body aches
• Headache
• High fever
• Cough
• No appetite

How does someone catch the flu?

Like so many other diseases, flu is spread easily from infected people by sneezing and coughing and through their hands.

How do I stay safe and avoid getting the flu?

You can get a flu shot, but you have to get it every year because there are so many flu viruses. Each year researchers pick the three that are most likely to attack. You can still get the flu even with the shot, but if you do the symptoms won't be so bad and it will go away faster.

What is Pertussis?

Have you ever heard of whooping cough? That's pertussis!

How do I know if I have pertussis?

If you have the following symptoms, you may have pertussis.

• It starts with a cold
• Vomiting after coughing spell
• After a week or two, you'll have thick, gluey mucus in your lungs
• You'll make a gasping "whoop" sound after you cough
• You'll have cough that just "does not go away "(100 days' cough)

How does someone catch pertussis?

The bacteria is spread through the air, and is so contagious that a person with pertussis will infect almost everyone in their household if those people aren't vaccinated!

How do I stay safe and avoid getting pertussis?

Get vaccinated! Wash your hands with soap, cover up coughs and sneezes, and don't share cups and silverware.

What is Mumps?

Mumps is a virus that makes the saliva glands between your jaws and ear swell up, giving you "chipmunk cheeks." Some people say the name "mumps" comes from those swollen cheek lumps and the way they make people mumble. So, Mumble + Lumps = Mumps.

How do I know if I have mumps?

If you have the following symptoms, you may have pertussis.

• Fever
• Muscle aches, loss of appetite
• Chipmunk cheeks
• Swelling of the testicles

How does someone catch mumps?

Mumps spreads through the air, and can live on surfaces.

How do I stay safe and avoid getting mumps?

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) has almost gotten rid of mumps in the U.S. In 1967 there were 200,000 or more cases. In 2002 there were only 231! Still, keep up that hand washing and cover up those coughs and sneezes!

What is Varicella?

The chicken pox! You probably already know it gives you a rash that itches like crazy, and that you can only get it once. But did you know that it's more dangerous if you get it as an adult?

How do I know if I have varicella?

If you have the following symptoms, you may have chicken pox.

• High fever
• A red, itchy rash of blisters, usually starting on the face or chest

How does someone catch varicella?

Chicken pox is extremely contagious and is spread through the air and lives on surfaces. Also, if you scratch the blisters you will spread the rash.

How do I stay safe and avoid getting varicella?

The vaccine works for most kids (1/4 still get the chicken pox, but if you get the shot and still get the disease it will be a milder case and will go away faster).

What is Hepatitis?

There's a "family" of hepatitis types: Hep A, Hep B, Hep C and Hep D. They all attack the liver, but the worst two are B and C.

How do I know if I have hepatitis?

Many people with Hep A or B have no symptoms, but the trademark symptom of hepatitis is fatigue, loss of appetite and "jaundice." That's when your skin turns yellow. But Hep B can also be sneaky, and the only way to be sure you have it is with a blood test.

How does someone catch hepatitis?

Hepatitis is NOT spread by casual contact. You can only get it through the exchange of bodily fluids—mainly blood.

How do I stay safe and avoid getting hepatitis?

Vaccines are given for Hep A and Hep B, and the one for B also prevents D. Plus, there's one in the works for Hep C. These shots are the best way to prevent hepatitis.

What is Diptheria?

Diphtheria is a bacteria that multiplies in your nose and throat. It builds up and makes it hard to breathe.

How do I know if I have diptheria?

The number one sign of diphtheria is a grayish membrane covering the nose and throat. But you might also have:

• Sore throat and hoarseness
• Painful swallowing
• Runny nose
• Swollen Glands
• Fever

How does someone catch diptheria?

Diphtheria is another "air and surface" bacteria, and someone who is infected can spread the disease for up to four weeks!

How do I stay safe and avoid getting diptheria?

Like tetanus and mumps, the diphtheria vaccine has almost knocked out the disease here in the United States. But you'll probably have to get a booster shot as an adult, because the vaccine's protection fades over time.

What is Rubella?

Rubella is also called "German measles" and causes a skin rash that starts on the head and spreads down. It's more dangerous for pregnant women, though, as it can hurt the baby.

How do I know if I have rubella?

Rubella symptoms are usually pretty mild, but the rash can last for a couple of weeks.

How does someone catch rubella?

Rubella is spread through the air, or through close contact with another person.

How do I stay safe and avoid getting rubella?

The MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine is the best way to prevent it. Luckily, you can only get the infection once!