Infectious Diseases
The human body has many enemies, large, small. The most dangerous are far small for the human eye to see. This is the germs and viruses. Not all germs are dangerous, some are highly beneficial and necessary for life, but others are responsible for many serious diseases, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, septic sore throat, tonsillitis, tuberculosis, and abscesses. Diseases even very dangerous are caused by viruses-organisms considerably smaller than germs. Really they are so small that they can be seen only with the help of a powerful electron microscope.
Fortunately, virus diseases strike a person only once. In recovering from the disease, the body builds up resistance or immunity to the organism. Doctors take advantage of this natural mechanism of the body by using various vaccines, serums, antigens to protect against certain serious diseases, such as polio. As time goes on, more of these protective vaccines will be produced. Now we are able to protect most children against such serious diseases as diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus by using the well-known DPT injections given to babies during the first few months of life.
Protection is now available against polio, either by using the live vaccine, the Salk injections. Children can be vaccinated against smallpox and another contagious disease. These protective measures mean that most children now have a far greater chance for better health than ever before. Parents should certainly take advantage of this newer knowledge to protect their families against unnecessary sickness.
