- PAGE 6 - PI.AINDEAI.ER - FRIDAY. AUGUST 22,11 County Health Department Urge Childrens' Immunization (From the McHenry County Department of Health) Parents are aware that healthy children are happy children. However, are all parents aware of the seven preventable childhood diseases, and just how to prevent them? The preventable diseases of childhood, against which children can be vaccinated, are measles (rubeola), mumps, rubella (German measles), diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), Tetanus (lockjaw) and polio. Many people believe that the threat of these diseases no longer exists, and ihat vaccination is no longer important. The truth is that all of these diseases can strike unprotected children. Safe, effective vaccines are available and a nationwide campaign is underway to immunize 90 percent of all children against the preventable diseases. It makes no sense to subject a child to un necessary sickness and misery, or missed time from school, or to disrupt vacation plans due to the lack of proper immunizations, especially when the cost of treatment is so much higher than the cost of prevention. On a statewide level, an average of only 80 percent of the children entering school for the first time in Illinois are fully immunized against each disease. This is below the required 90 percent needed to prevent epidemics. A common misconception among parents is that children need not be vac cinated until they are ready to start school. However, children are susceptible to disease during the first four of five years of life, a time when some diseases are most likely to strike and when complications can be most severe. The time to begin a lifetime of disease prevention is infancy. The primary series of vac cinations, often referred to as "baby shots", should begin at two months of age. It is important to follow the proper schedule so that children are protected as early as possible. Also, those children who are behind schedule should not be assumed to be beyond the age of danger. Parents often believe that their children have been adeauately immunized, when in fact they have not. The key word is adequately. For example, many junior and senior high school students are not adequately protected against measles because they were im munized before 1968. The exclusive use of live measles vaccine began that year. Or perhaps a doctor's ap pointment was missed or an inoculation was postponed because a child was not feeling well, or health records were never tran sferred. All of these situations can lead to oversight, leaving an un protected child vulnerable to any of the childhood diseases. Unfortunately, one of the major factors in the low levels of immunizations is an apparent lack of public awarness concerning the seriousness of these preventable diseases. In the effort to keep children healthy, it is im portant to be aware of the characteristics of the preventable childhood diseases, their risks and complications, and their vaccine schedules. MEASLES: Common Names: Rubeola. Hard Measles, 10-day measles, Red Measles. Before vaccines were available, measles struck hundreds of thousands of children each year, killing hundreds of them and af flicting hundreds more with serious complications such as encephalitis (in flammation of the brain), ear infections or pneumonia. Surprisingly, measles generally has not been thought of as a serious disease. Even today, en- lalitis occffrs in one out /ery 1,000cases, causing _ lanent brain damage, mental retaliation and deafness. Mi fection or pn one out of patients, am ear in- a afflicts measles out of I THE OLYMPIC REPRESENTATIVE WILLBE HERE TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS SATURDAY, AUGUST 23rd FROM 10 AM 1 FREE WITH 4 Buy 4 gallons of anyone Olympic Product, get 1 more free. ft \r UT rr ower paint BB ^ ijjB H W*iu**u»«i4imFx*.wooo^H| | j* A|%#a J*cr•£'s "ooo bcaotituu* SB « ... OOWIPO |0iy/11&HOLYMPIC STAINES I OVRCORT I STAIN Gil 51711 IMS SEMI TRANSPARENT SOLID COLOR SOLID COLOR Stwi-TrqnsparowH Stain Olympic Overcoat h?netratinn protection that enhances the natural grain and texture of new wood. 36 beautiful wood-tone colors. The tough acrylic house paint that reitlly heats the weather! Cle;ins up fast with just soap and water. SotdC lor Stain SaU Color tatax Stain Highlights wood's natural ( Covers paint and stain with rich texture in !l() rich, long lasting ftjellnw color that protects your earth colors. home for years. Penetrating protection. Kasy soap and water dean up. Hurry. Sale ends September Z Specially marked $3 IX) ott & $4.0(1 off gallons not included in this sale. LEXANDER LUMBER Where the Pro's Shop! 909 Front Street McHenry <15-385.1424 SERVING MCHENRY COUNTY FOR OVER $0 YEARS (XCtPT AINOTEO 10,000 patients dies from measles. The dangers of the disease were never widely published or recognized, which is why many parents weren't as concerned about having their children im munized agmst measles 1u they were with diseases like polio and diphtheria. Measles is highly con tagious in unvaccinated children. The attack rate is greater than 90 percent in "close" contacts. To be adequately protected, a child should receive live vaccine at 15 months of age. It can be given singly or in combination with mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR), or with just rubella vaccine (MR). Symptoms: Warnings of cold-like symptoms, rash and high fever, lasting from 4-10 days. RUBELLA: Common Names: German measles and Three-day measles. Rubella is milder than measles, but can have devastating effects on an unborn child if a woman contracts rubella during the first three months of pregnancy. The baby may experience tragic birth defects involving the heart, eye, ear or brain. Stillbirth often occurs. Rubella isn't as dangerous to the children who get it as it is to susceptible pregnant females who are exposed to it. This is why every effort should be made to immunize children against rubella. The vaccine is safe and should be administered at 15 months of age. It can be given singly or in combination with measles and mumps vaccine (MMR), or just with measles vaccine (MR). Symptoms: Slight fever, rash lasting three days, and swelling of glands in neck. Security American Family's Special Homeowners Package Policy. Complete security for that special place you call home. It's the most comprehensive, home owners coverage we've ever offered. Call me today. I'll provide you with all the information. CHUCK LEWANDOWSKI As of JIM 1st for New Location will be 1308 N. PARK mcheiky CALL US FOR DETAILS 385-2304 AMERICAN FAMILY I N S U H A N C r MTTO mm mamas m/URN in Am«f icon f omily Mutual In ju'Jnce Co Mod'van DIPHTHERIA, PER TUSSIS AND TETANUS Diphtheria is a very serious disease. Although recent outbreaks of have occurred in Its in urban areas, most diphtheria cases occur in children. The majority of these cases occur in unimmunized or partially immunized children. Ap proximately one out of io people who gets diphtheria die from it. Symptoms: Fever, severe sore throat with white mucus covering throat making breathing difficult. Pertussis, or Whooping Cough, is highly com municable with an attack rate as high as 90 percent for unimmunized, "close" contacts. This disease can produce severe com plications such as ionia and seizures and i a 70 percent fatality rate in infants. Routine pertussis vaccination is not recom mended for children seven years of age or older. Symptoms: High-pitched cough occurring in spasms, frequently accompanied by vomiting. Tetanus, or Lockjaw, remains an important health problem for both children and adults. It results when wounds are infected with the Tetanus bacteria. Almost all cases occur in unimmunized or partially immunized persons. There is no natural immunity to the Tetanus toxin, so immunization is a necessity regardless of age. Tetanus has a high mortality rate once it does strike. The vaccine is highly effective and provides long-lasting protection. Symptoms: Painful muscular con tractions at site of injury. Immunizations for DPT should be given in com bination at two, four and six months of age, with a booster dose at 18 months and between the ages of four and sue years (at school entry). POLIO: Anyone who remembers the polio epidemics when thousands of children died and thousands more were crippled, remembers the horror of this disease. Today, because of better understanding of the polio virus and because of the development of the vaccine, the disease is relatively under control. However, even though polio is thought of as the* "forgotten disease", epidemics are possible if immunity levels are not raised or at least maintained. There still are small numbers of cases reported and the disease still kills about one out of 10 children who get it. The oral vaccine is given as a series, usually at the same time DPT is administered. Symptoms: Headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle soreness, stiff neck and fever. Vaccines work best when they are given at the recommended time and on a regular schedule. However, interruption of the recom mended schedule, with a delay between doses, does not interfere with the final immunity achieved. It is not necessary to start the series over again. Instead, the NEW THIS SUMMER... Everything For The Nautical & Wildlife Decor You Can Reach Us By Land Or By Sea. 443 FOUR SHELLS 1 Rust Brown 2 Dark Brown 3 While 12x36 10% DISCOUNT With this ad thru Aug. 31, '80 JUST ADD WATER/ NAUTICAL GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES 1208 N.RIVERSIDE DRIVE DIVISION OF MILLER'S DREAM MARINE ON THE FOX RIVER SO. OF RTE. 120 BRIDGE series and booster doses should be completed ac cording to the recommended schedule for the age of the child (call local health department or private physician for specific age recommendations). All live vaccines plus DPT shots should be given at least four weeks apart and doses of polio vaccine should be administered eight weeks apart. Measles, mumps and rubella shots require no boosters if they are given at the proper age. Parents should keep a personal copy of their family members' health records for their own reference. Each time a vaccination is given, parents should document the exact month, day and year, and which vaccine was administered. If the child has had the diseases, document that as well, and get the signature of the physician who made the diagnosis. If the recommended schedule for immunizations, is followed, children will not only be adequately protected, but also in compliance with the new school code law. No child will be allowed to come to school in the fall if his-her health history is not com pletely up-tcHiate showing adequate proof of proper immunizations. "School^ nurses will be looking for exact month, day physician s" year; and documentation of types of toKgcioe. J&e schools stand to lose a percentage of their state funding if their student enrollment is not in com pliance with the requirements of the new sc hool code, it is important that parents request a copy of school records if their child is transferring schools. The health of the Illinois children depends mi disease prevention now more ever before. The old of being concerned only after longer ac- lical. In mention is successful, more convenient anq less ex pensive than treatment. RingjvoodNews 385-8037 %A53-92y 728-0343 Solicit Ne§ Choir Members M • Choir practice will ripume at the Ringwood united Methodist church on Tuesday evening, Aug» 26, at 7 p.m. It is hoped togjlarge the choir this yeM and anyone who is interfiled is invited to come that night. GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY A large number of family, friends and co-workers stopped at the Ringwood United Methodist Sunday afternoon and extend best Virginia and Clayton Bruce on the occasion of their golden wedding an niversary. All their children were present to share in the Bruce's happiness. A beautiful four-tiered wedding cake, appropriately decorated, and traditional gold candles centered the serving table. Dorothy Decker, who had made the cake, cut it and Lillian and Darlene Wagner helped serve. Virginia and Clayton's granddaughters circulated the guest book. The only grandchild unable to attend, was Resae Robinett of Texas. Resae and Charles are momentarily awaiting the arrival of their second child and felt it best to stay close to home. Rodney and Carol Ackerman, with son Lucas, Texas, added to the less of the occasion by their son baptized by 'Schneider at Shepherd of Hie Hills Lutheran church |e they were here. FAMILY REUNION ft, Mary and Laura er recently attended the lion of the Baker family in£.Strawberry Point, Iowa. Twenty-sue members were present to enjoy visiting and good food. The oldest member present was Art's mother, Mrs. Mae Baker, who is a very spry and "young" ninety-one. ENJOY WISCONSIN VISIT Among recent travelers were Art, Katy and Patty Christopher, who went north to visit the Gary Linstads in Black Creek; Art's mother and dad in Wausaukee; and also his sister in Green Bay. On the way home, Katy stopped and spent a couple of days with the grandchildren. CORRECTION Sewing Work day will be held in the home of Flora Carr at Woodstock on Thursday, Aug. 28, from 10:30 to 3 p.m., instead of Alice Peet's as previously announced. BELATED BIRTHDAY GREETINGS Happy Birthday to Ellie Nabor who celebrated on Aug. 17, and to her husband, A1 Nabor, who enjoyed his day Aug. 20. Set Special Session STONE CRITTERS The Illinois Supreme court has scheduled a special session Monday, Aug. 25, to hear the Coalition for Political Honesty's suit to protect the Legislative Cutback amendment's place on the Nov. 4 ballot. The case will be heard in the courtroom of the Supreme court on the thirtieth floor of the Daley center in Chicago at 2 p.m. The hearing is open to the public. The Cutback amendment is a voter referendum seeking to cut the size of the Illinois House by one-third, a reduction which the Coalition says will save taxpayers $7 million a year. The amendment will also abolish cumulative voting and multi-member House districts. The State Board of Elections seeks to keep the Cutback amendment off the ballot by applying a petition law to the Coalitions' 477,112 signatures. The law was passed by the legislature on Aug. 11, 1979, eight months after the Cutback petition drive began. Quinn said Coalition members will be selling buttons and organizing fund raisers to raise the ap proximately $10,000 in legal costs necessary in protecting the Cutback amendment's place on the ballot. Tobacco Tobacco was once con sidered the cure-all for every conceivable ill of mankind -- including the plague --by Europeans. 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