Hepatitis-B
A viral infection of the liver, it is transmitted by close sexual contact, contaminated needles and blood transfusions. It can also be transmitted from the pregnant mother to her baby. AIDS is also transmitted by the same modes of transmission. The chief complaints are jaundice and fever with vomiting. Urine becomes dark yellow. The infection may become chronic and lead to liver failure and sometimes to liver cancer. As treatment of it is disappointing, prevention by vaccination is the best course.
Typhoid
A disease characterised by high fever, abdominal pain and diarrhoea or constipation; it is mainly a water borne disease. Because of lack of safe drinking water, poor hygiene and sanitation, it is very common in India. The disease, though having an effective cure, may sometimes lead to serious complications and so vaccination is recommended.
Chickenpox
It is characterized mainly by fever and a vesicular (clear fluid filled, like a blister) rash, which is painful and itchy. It is air borne and it is very infectious to others. School going children or those who are in creches etc. are more likely to get it. It is not serious and is self-curing. Being a viral disease, medicine are not usually required (though available) for it. It takes about a week to cure.
Rabies
Bites and scratches by rabid animals (commonly dogs) have the potential of causing a uniformly fatal disease called Rabies for which there is no cure. It can only be prevented by immunisation. Whenever any person is bitten or scratched by animals like dogs, cats, monkeys etc., the local wound should immediately be washed copiously with soap and water for 30 minutes. After that apply some antiseptic solution on it and rush to your doctor. If the animal is a pet or someone who can be observed for at least 10 days, then nothing more is to be done on an immediate basis.
However during the period of observation, if the animal shows any change in its behaviour or dies, report immediately to your doctor. Remember that alteration in the behaviour of the animal under observation is as valid a sign as is the death of the animal for you to start taking urgent steps. If the animal cannot be observed or is a proved rabid one, then immediately rabies immunoglobulin is given (half the dose at the local wound and half intramuscularly) plus the 1st dose of anti-rabies vaccine is given. The vaccine is again repeated on days 3, 7,14, 28 and 90. Rabies immunoglobulin is as important as the vaccine and so make sure that the child receives both.