Weekly Health Quiz - Meningococcal Disease

Meningococcal Disease

In Nov. 2013, "the NJ Department of Health (NJDOH)" stated "The NJDOH  is aware of 8 cases of invasive meningococcal disease associated with Princeton University. NJDOH has considered this to be an outbreak of meningococcal disease . . . "

According to the NJDOH:

"You can help prevent the spread of illnesses by:"

a) "Avoid sharing utensils, water bottles or other items contaminated by saliva or respiratory secretions."
b) "Cleaning your hands. Washing your hands will help protect you against infections.  . . . You should clean your hands before eating."
c) "Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing."
d) "Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol intake."
e) all of the above


source:
http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/meningo/documents/meningococcal_faq.pdf
answer:
e) all of the above

"Meningococcal disease can be spread from person to person. The bacteria are spread by
exchanging respiratory and throat secretions like saliva (spit) during close (for example,
coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact, . . . "

(c) Nov 30, 2013 zBlox.com

Child Deaths in the U.S.

According to the CDC,

the leading cause of death for children 1-14 years of age in the United States (2010) was "unintentional injury."

"Unintentional MV Traffic" is the leading cause of "unintentional injury" deaths for all children 1-14.
Specifically for children 1-4 years old, the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths is:

a) "Unintentional Drowning"
b) "MV Traffic"
c) "Homicide Unspecified"
d) "Unintentional Fire/Burn"

Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/pdf/10LCID_All_Deaths_By_Age_Group_2010-a.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/pdf/10LCID_Unintentional_Deaths_2010-a.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/leadingcauses.html 

Answer: (a) "Unintentional Drowning"

Preventing Pneumonia

According to the CDC (2013)

"In 2010, 1.1 million people in the United States were hospitalized with pneumonia, and about 50,000 people died from the disease."

"Globally, pneumonia kills more than 1 million children younger than 5 years of age each year. This is greater than the number of deaths from any other infectious disease, such as HIV infection, malaria or tuberculosis."    

Which of the following "can also help prevent respiratory infections" or pneumonia?    
a) "good hygiene practices  . . . washing your hands regularly, cleaning hard surfaces that are touched often (like doorknobs and countertops)"    
b) "coughing or sneezing into a tissue or into your elbow or sleeve"   
c) "vaccines in many cases"  d) "limiting exposure to cigarette smoke and treating and preventing conditions like diabetes." 
e) all of the above   

source:
"Pneumonia Can Be Prevented - Vaccines Can Help"  CDC Nov 2013
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pneumonia/

answer: e) all of the above

Folic Acid

According to the CDC (Jan 2012),

"Every woman needs folic acid every day, whether she’s planning to get pregnant or not,  . . . "
"CDC urges women to take ____ of folic acid every day, starting at least one month before getting pregnant, to help prevent major birth defects of the baby's brain and spine."  
(mcg = micrograms, mg = milligrams)
a) 100 mcg 
b) 400 mcg 
c) 100 mg 
d) 400 mg 


Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/about.html


Answer;  b) 400 mcg