• Measels and the Vaccine to Prevent It

    The best way to protect against measles is to get the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR).  Doctors recommend that all children get the MMR vaccine. 

    Why should my child get the MMR vaccine?  The MMR vaccine:  protects your child from measles, a potentially serious disease (and also protects against mumps and rubella); prevents your child from getting an uncomfortable rash and high fever from measles; and keeps your chid from missing school or childcare (and keeps you from missing work to care for your sick child).

    What is Measles?  Measles is a serious respiratory disease that causes a rash and fever.  It is very contagious and in rare cases, it can be deadly. 

    What are the symptoms of measles?  Measles starts with a fever that can get very high.  Some of the other symptoms are:  cough, runny nose, and red eyes; rash of tiny, red spots that start at the head and spread to the rest of the body; diarrhea; ear infection. 

    How does measles spread?  Measles spreads when a person infected with the  measles virus breathes, coughs, or sneezes.  It is very contagious.  You can catch measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, up to 2 hours after that person is gone.  And you can catch measles from an infected person even before they have a measles rash.  Almost everyone who has not had the MMR vaccine will get measles if they are exposed to the measles virus. 

     

     

    Ringworm

     Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus and can affect the scalp, fingers, toe nails or feet.  The common signs and symptoms include:

    - Itchy, red raised, scaly patches that may blister and ooze.  The pathes often have sharply defined edges.  They are often redder around the outside with normal skin tone in the center.  This may create the appearance of a ring.  Your skin may also appear unusually dark or light. 

    - When your scalp is infected, you may have bald patches.

    - If nails are infected, they become discolored, thick and may even crumble.

    Ringworm of the scalp begins as a small pimple and becomes larger and more scaly (small bald patches may occur).  On the body, the infection appears as a flat, red edged, round area.  It may appear either dry and scaly or moist and crusted.  As it spreads, the center area clears and appears normal.  Ringworm of the foot appears scaly with cracked skin, especially between the toes. 

    Ringworm is spread by skin to skin contact with infected people or pets or indirectly by contact with infected items (e.g., hair clippers), shower stalls or floors.  To prevent the spread of ringworm, infected areas must be covered. 

    If you suspect that your child has ringworm, you need to take your child to the doctor or healthcare provider.  Medicine is needed for the treatment of ringworm.

    To prevent the spread of infection, towels, hats and clothing should not be shared.

    Please notify the school nurse if your child becomes ill with ringworm or if you have any questions or concerns. 

  • Lead Poisoning

      Each year in New Jersey nearly 5,000 children are diagnosed with dangerous levels of lead in their blood.  Those children, in turn, will sustain brain damage that ensures both educational and social problems for the rest of their lives.  This preventable disease has been linked to an inability to learn, to attention deficit, to violence and to drug use.  The complete impact of lead poisoning is immeasurable.  For more information or to obtain a free lead test kit please call 1-877-DCA-LEAD or visit their website at www.LeadSafeNJ.org .

    SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN'S IMMUNIZATION CLINIC

    The School-Age Children's Immunization Clinic at the Health Department is offering vaccines for the prevention of Meningococcal infection and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) for those who qualify. Menacta is a vaccine for the protection against meningococcal infection. Vaccination with Menactra should be limited to (1) adolescents at age 15 years and (2) adolescents at age 18 years until all supply issues are rectified. Most New Jersey colleges and universities require a meningococcal immunization for incoming freshman and the School Age Children's Immunization Clinic cannot give this immunization after a student graduates from high school.  These vaccines in private settings range in cost from $75.00 to $150.00. 

    The Health Department will also be offering Gardasil immunizations for girls 9 to 26 years of age and is aimed at the prevention of cervical cancer, precancerous or dysplastic lesions, and genital warts caused by HPV. Eligibility for this vaccine is (1) female, (2) adolescents at age 11-18 or (3) adolescents at age 9 at the discretion of their doctor.

    Patient eligibility for all vaccines offered at the School Age Children's Immunization Clinic is subject to the following guidelines:

    * Medicaid or Medicaid Managed Care

    * No Medical insurance

    * Alaskan Native or Native American

    * Underinsured (must be immunized at a Federally Qualified Health Center).

    If you have any questions, or need further information regarding these or any other public health matter, please do not hesitate to contact the Burlington County Health Department at 609-265-5548.

    MRSA

    There has been much attention in the news recently about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections. These infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria usually present as a skin or soft tissue infection with fever, inflammation, pain and pus.  Keep an eye on minor skin problems - pimples, insect bites, cuts and scrapes - especially in children.  If wounds become infected, see your doctor.  Some documented risk factors include contact sports, sharing sports gear or personal hygiene items (razors, tweezers) without adequate disinfectant cleaning. 

    Some common-sense precautions that can help reduce your risk of contacting MRSA include:

    *  Keep personal items personal  - avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment.

    *  Keep wounds covered

    *  Sanitize linens - If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in hot water with added bleach and dry them in a hot dryer.  Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing.

    *  Wash your hands - Also carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer containing at least 62% alcohol for times when you don't have access to soap and water.

    * Get Treated - If you have a skin infection that requires treatment, ask your doctor if you should be tested for MRSA.  Some doctors prescribe drugs that aren't effective against antibiotic-resistant staph, which delays treatment and creates more resistant germs.