Infectious Diseases: Measles and Scarlet Fever

Infectious diseases can pass from an infectious person to a healthy person in different ways.

Measles

Measles is a very infectious disease. The disease passes from one child to another. The first symptoms are sneezing and coughing. The disease begins with signs of a heavy cold, a running nose and a dry cough. The temperature is high and the child has a dislike of light. Rash appears on the third or fourth day behind the ears and around the mouth, and then covers the body. The nurse must be very careful to prevent the spread of infection. The nurse must take care of the mouth hygiene. The patient's mouth and lips must be clean and moist.

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is an infectious disease. We can often see children ill with this disease, and only sometimes grown-ups. The disease passes from one person to another through the nose and mouth. The beginning of the disease is quick. The patient has a sore throat fever, headache, and vomits often. The face is flushed and the skin feels hot and dry. The temperature rises quickly on the Srst day and remains high for a few days. The rash appears on the second day. After the temperature falls the skin begins to peel. We tnust isolate the child with scarlet fever and put him/her in bed. When the temperature is high the nurse gives him/her a fluid diet and when the temperature falls she gives him/her nourishing food.

Post-reading activities

7. Comprehension. Are the sentences true or false? Correct false statements.

1. An infectious disease is a disease that you get from someone or something.

2. Scarlet fever passes from one person to another only through the mouth.

3. The rash appears in a week.

4. The nurse gives nourishing food when the temperature rises.

5. Measles begin with a cold and a bad cough.

6. The nurse must take care of the mouth' hygiene.

7. The first symptom of measles is only coughing.

8. Rash covers the body.

9. The patient's mouth and lips must be clean.

10. The patient's temperature in case of measles and scarlet fever is usually low.

8. Answer the questions.

1. What does a patient with scarlet fever have?

2. What is the temperature of a patient with scarlet fever?

3. Does skin begin to peel?

4. Must we isolate a person with scarlet fever?

5. What are the first symptoms of measles?

6. When does rash begin in case of measles?

7. How must a nurse look after a patient with measles?

8. What diet must a child with scarlet fever have?

9. What are the symptoms of measles? 10. What is a disease agent?

III. Vocabulary and Language

9. Fill in the gaps. Learn the kinds of diseases caused by disease agents.

1. _____ is something that causes an infectious disease.

2. The smallest disease agents are _____ .

3. _____ are the most common form of life on the Earth.

4. _____ are disease agents that have only one cell.

5. _____ are the disease agents which cause athlete's foot.

10. Good Health Practices.

A good health practice is something that you choose to do that makes you healthy. Good health practices keep those around you healthy too. The following good health practices help to prevent infectious diseases.

a) Match the words from the left column with the words from the right one.

1. Cover your nose...	___ who has an infectious disease.
2. Cover your mouth...	___ cover an open cut with a ban­dage.
3. Eat foods...	___ the same glass as others.
4. Keep from getting bitten...	___ with soap and water after you use toilet.
5. Do not get too close to some­one...	___ and wash products properly.
6. Do not drink from...	___ with soap and water fre­quently and before you eat.

7. Do not use...	___ when you sneeze.
8. Freeze, cook,...	___ that have been protected from insects.
|9. Wash your hands...	___ with soap and water.
10. Wash your hands...	___ by insects or animals.
11. Wash all cuts...	___ a comb or a brush of another person.
12. After washing,...	___ when you cough.

b) Provide your own good health practices.