As we grow older, we tend to think that childhood illnesses are long-gone and behind us.
However, certain illnesses can still affect us as adults, and they can be extremely dangerous. With our temperatures dropping and winter comfortably settling in, let’s have a look at some of these illnesses, how they can affect you as an adult, and what steps you can take to avoid getting them.
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Chickenpox
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Chickenpox is often associated with childhood, but it can also affect adults who have not previously been infected or even previously gotten the vaccine.
However, in adults, chickenpox can be more severe, leading to even bigger concerns such as pneumonia, or bacterial infections. To avoid getting chickenpox as an adult, you must have received the varicella vaccine, particularly if you have not had the disease before.
Measles
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Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, can have serious consequences in adults.
General symptoms consist of high fevers, rash, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. If you have not received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or have not had measles before, it is very important to consider vaccination to protect yourself and those around you.
Mumps
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With so many people getting mumps at the moment, let’s dive into what it really is.
Mumps is known as a viral infection commonly connected to children, however the infection can be dangerous for adults if contracted.
The symptoms are generally found in swollen salivary glands, fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. It becomes scary in adult cases as mumps can lead to complications such as meningitis, orchitis (inflammation of the testicles in males), and oophoritis (inflammation of the ovaries in females).
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Tips to avoid adult-onset of childhood diseases:
- Stay up-to-date with vaccinations.
- Practice good hygiene.
- Be informed and educate others.
Many don’t believe in being vaccinated, which leaves room for more people to get infected as adults, when kids are not vaccinated at a young age. This year, the US reported a 2% drop in their vaccinations among kids, resulting in just over 200 000 kids not being vaccinated. See the report below:
The question remains, is contracting a virus that could potentially kill you worth not getting vaccinated?
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Feature image: Getty
