Why illnesses from the past are making a comeback
With measles, Dickensian diseases such as scarlet fever, whooping cough, and tuberculosis rearing their heads and life expectancy rates down, asks why our health seems to be getting worse, not better
FOR a long time, it seemed the march of medical science would gradually banish the ailments that afflict us. But recently some illnesses we’d assumed were beaten or brought under control have come roaring back. We asked some experts why our health seems to be going backwards.
“There’s also a misconception it can be treated with antibiotics – it is a virus so antibiotics have no effect,” warns Dr Leonard.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is now considering not allowing children to start school unless they have had both MMR vaccinations.
“SCARLET fever is definitely making a big comeback,” says IN 2018, more than 140,000 people Dr Leonard. In 2018, there were worldwide were killed by measles, over 30,000 cases of scarlet fever in despite the fact it is a preventable England and Wales – the highest disease. number since 1960.
Last August, the UK lost its This contagious disease mainly measles-free status three years after affects children and can lead to the virus was eliminated in this meningitis and septicaemia. country. Often seen in young Treatment is with antibiotics to children and spread by infected reduce the risk of complications. respiratory droplets, “There may be a link symptoms include fever, between the increase in fatigue, nasal cases and the fact GPs congestion, no longer prescribe conjunctivitis, a antibiotics for sore cough and a rash. But throats,” explains Dr complications can Leonard. occur, including Antibiotics have no inflammation of the effect on viruses but lungs, brain and liver. are effective against
A rash denotes “The main reason is the streptococcus bacteria
Scarlet fever low take-up of the MMR (strep throat). Because vaccination, meaning the loss of scarlet fever usually starts with a herd immunity,” explains doctor sore throat, it’s possible early and author Rosemary Leonard. intervention with antibiotics had an
Vaccination in at least 95% of us is impact. needed to stop the spread of contagious, infectious diseases. “Herd immunity” protects the vulnerable, such as newborn babies, the sick and the elderly.
But the publication of controversial – and since discredited – research in the late 90s wrongly linking MMR with autism, combined with misleading information on social media, led to a drop in parents taking children for the jab.
THIS bone disorder – once thought to be eliminated – affects children’s bones and can cause pain, stunted growth, fragile bones and malformation of the bones due to a lack of vitamin D and sometimes calcium. “With more people covering up for religious and cultural reasons, parents becoming meticulous about sunscreen and fewer children playing outside, it’s unsurprising many of us are low in vitamin D,” explains Dr Leonard. “The Chief Medical Officer now says that everyone should take it between October and April.
A lack of vitamin D causes rickets
It is also offered to pregnant women as it can provide passive immunity to the newborn baby. anyone over 16 – apart from healthcare workers.