The Record Special Sections Health Quarterly 07-28-2019 | Seite 4

4 ❚ SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 ❚ THE RECORD
HEALTH QUARTERLY / ADVERTISING SECTION
Children’s Health:
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr. Piwoz. “The good news is that immu-
nization is very effective.” The live virus
starts at the hairline and works itself
MMR vaccine is administered in two doses;
down to the bottom of the feet,” explains
the first at 12 to 15 months of age and the
Maria Espiritu-Fuller, MD, Division director,
second at pre-school age four to six years.
Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children’s
If your child has not yet been vaccinated
Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth
against measles and you’re concerned they
Israel Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas
may have been in contact with someone
Health facility. “When the rash — flat red
who has measles, getting the vaccine right
spots or sometimes raised bumps — hits
away may help them avoid developing the
the feet, the fever subsides.” However,
disease. “Another precaution is a medicine
the virus is already contagious four days
called immune globulin. If the child doesn’t
before the rash appears and remains so
get vaccinated or take immune globulin,
until four days later putting many at risk.
it’s best to keep them away from places
that have large
numbers of
children in order
to avoid further
risk,” says
Dr. Espiritu-
Fuller. In cases
with increased
risk like travel
or exposure, the
vaccine is recom-
mended before
six months,
however, the
child should still
get the required
two doses.
Measles is pre-
ventable; make
sure to protect
your children
PHOTO COURTESY OF RWJBARNABAS HEALTH from this detri-
mental disease
Dr. Maria Espiritu-Fuller, Division director, Pediatric Infectious
through a safe and
Diseases, Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel.
effective vaccine.
“Although your instincts may be
LYME DISEASE
telling you to go straight to a healthcare
Lyme Disease is the most common
provider, if you think your child has mea-
tickborne infectious disease in the United
sles or has been exposed to someone with
States, especially endemic in the northeast
measles, the first thing to do is call your
due in large part to climate change and the
pediatrician,” states Walter Rosenfeld, MD,
expanding number of ticks in our region.
chair of Pediatrics for Goryeb Children’s
Lyme Disease is caused by a bacteria,
Hospital and Atlantic Health System. Why?
Borrelia Burgdorferi, that is transmitted
“The highly contagious nature of measles
only through a bite from an infected black-
means that your child potentially could
legged or deer tick. Ticks will harbor and
infect dozens of people simply by stepping
feed on the blood of white-footed mice,
inside a healthcare facility. Your pediatri-
other small rodents and deer acquiring the
cian will instruct you on how to proceed,
bacteria that causes Lyme Disease.
which also gives healthcare practitioners
The infected ticks must be attached to
time to prepare their team and the facility
a human for 24 to 48 hours before the
to prevent the spread of infection.”
disease can potentially be transmitted,
“Measles can be quite severe,
with signs and symptoms as early as three
symptoms painful and have significant
days or as late as 21 days after the bite.
consequences. One in 20 children with
The tick’s saliva has an antiseptic so an
measles may develop pneumonia, the lead- individual may not even feel its presence.
ing cause of death from measles and in
The most common symptom and initial
extremely rare cases, encephalitis,” says
signs are presented in the early localized
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
stage of the disease as
a rash at the site of the
bite generally noticed by
about 70 to 80 percent
of infected individuals.
The rash can appear any-
where on the body; ticks
like to latch onto armpits,
behind the legs, the groin
area, even the head
and neck particularly in
children. “Many times,
the rash has a bulls-eye
appearance, but not
always. Eventually the
rash might go away by
itself, but that doesn’t
mean the disease is out
of the system,” says Dr.
Espiritu-Fuller. “Flu-like
symptoms, fever, chills
and headaches are also Julia A. Piwoz, M.D., FAAP chief, Section of Pediatric
common. As the infection Infectious Diseases, The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s
progresses, you might
Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center.
see multiple rashes,
arthritis with severe pain and swelling, loss
with steady, even pressure. Do not twist.
of facial muscle tone or facial droop, even
When the entire insect is out, clean the bite
varying degrees of heart block and neuro-
area with rubbing alcohol or mild soap and
logical symptoms and Lyme meningitis.”
water. The best way to dispose of a tick is by
The good news is Lyme Disease is treat-
placing it in soapy water or alcohol, stick it
able with oral antibiotics. For early stages,
to a piece of tape or flush it down the toilet.
a 10- to 14-day treatment of Doxycycline
RECREATIONAL
or Amoxicillin is prescribed with very good
WATER DISEASES
chances for a full recovery. The earlier the
During the summer months, healthcare
disease is treated, the better. Later stages
providers are particularly concerned about
will require oral IV or antibiotics for approx- recreational water diseases caused by
imately two to four weeks. For symptoms
germs in our swimming pools, recreational
that occur later on, like arthritis, extended
water parks and lakes. Contrary to popu-
antibiotics are necessary.
lar belief, chlorine does not kill all germs.
Enjoy the great outdoors, but be mindful Swallowing even a little water that contains
and take precaution — always use insect
these germs can make you sick. Practice
repellent. “Parents should apply products
a few simple rules and play your part in
to their children, avoiding hands, eyes and
keeping our children, our friends and our
mouth. Permethrin, a spray that can be
neighbors healthy:
used on clothing, repels ticks even after
n If your child has diarrhea, keep them
several washings. DEET isn’t the only
out of the pool.
repellent out there that repels ticks. I like
n Take kids on frequent bathroom breaks
Picaridin and there are several others that
to avoid them relieve themselves in the pool.
can be safely used on skin. Always check
n Change diapers in the bathroom,
the label,” says Dr. Piwoz. If you have been
never poolside.
hiking in the woods, working in the garden
n Have your child shower before jump-
or enjoying any type of outdoor activity,
ing into the pool.
check your child’s skin, particularly under
n As a family, inquire how often a pool
the arms, in and around the ears, inside the is chlorinated.
belly button, behind the knees, between
Practicing these simple steps, will ensure
the legs and the head and hair. Carefully
a safer and more fun summer for everyone.
examine pets, clothing, gear and backpacks
Having your child contract an infectious
where ticks can hitch a ride into the home
disease can be very scary. But armed with
and then attach to a person.
knowledge and trusted health professionals,
If you do see a tick, use a pair of fine-
we are better equipped to keep them out of
tipped tweezers to remove it, pulling upward harm’s way.