Critical Thinking Polio Crusade Reflection - Assignment Example

Critical Thinking Assignment Polio Crusade Reflection Part There has been serious debate over the use of polio vaccine. The debate has made it possible for some people to reject the vaccine. There is a couple that is a good friend of me and expects a baby have informed me that they plan to reject a polio vaccine. The couple argues that polio is a disease of the past and if their baby gets the disease it will be easy tom avoid it using modern technology. They also note that polio has been linked to autism.

However, I would like to help this couple. First, I would like to inform the couple that vaccination is a most important thing to give to a child. The couple should understand that vaccines are safe and only cause minor reactions such as a sore arm once administered to the baby. The couple should also understand that there is more harm likely to occur to a child due to vaccine-preventable disease than by the vaccine itself. For example, failure to give the child polio vaccine will make the baby prone to polio with severe consequences such as paralysis.

Therefore, the benefits of vaccines are far more. Moreover, I would like to remind the couple that although polio is almost eradicated in our country, there are still risks. The World health Organization notes that causative agents of some of the eliminated conditions continue to occur in some parts of the world. This means people especially children are vulnerable to causative agents at any time. Hence, the couple should not view disease as something of the past. Lastly, I would like the couple to understand that there has been no established fact that the vaccine causes autism.

Studies conducted in the past linking vaccine to autisms have been dismissed. Works CitedWorld Health Organization. “What are some of the myths – and facts – about vaccination?” Www.who.int. Web. 29 March 2015. < http://www.who.int/features/qa/84/en/ >.Part 2ChickenpoxI chose chickenpox as the disease to reflect on various issues raised. It is one of the contagious diseases. The causative agent is varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The condition is easily spread from one person to the other.

It is spread to a person that have never had an infection or the person that have not received chickenpox vaccine. It is commonly spread in the air through coughing or sneezing. The virus can also be spread by coming into contact with the chickenpox blisters.There are various signs and symptoms of the disease. The main symptom is a rash that gets itchy. There are also blisters with fluid that later transforms into scabs. The rash first appears on the face, chest, and back. However, the rash later spreads to other parts of the body such as mouth and genital area.

The other symptoms include fever, lack of appetite, and headache.There are drugs available that can be used in the treatment of disease. Antiviral medications are available for treatment of this condition. The most common drug is acyclovir that is mainly recommended for the virus. The disease can sometimes kill its victims. However, deaths from the disease are rare. The groups at high risk of complication include infants, adolescents, and pregnant women. There are various long-term consequences of the disease.

They include infection or inflammation of the brain, sepsis, bone infections, joint infections, and toxic shock syndrome. Varicella vaccine is used in preventing occurrence of the condition. There are few side effects of the vaccine. Some of the children develop some reaction to the vaccine. They include soreness, fever, and mild rash. There is no long-term consequence of the vaccine.Works CitedCenter for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Chickenpox (Varicella).” Cdc.gov. Web. 29 March 2015. .Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Vaccines and Immunizations.” Cdc.gov. Web. 29 March 2015. .