Infectious Childhood Diseases

An Internet-based Treasure Hunt for 7th Grade Life Science

Instructions
You are to hunt down the treasures for the questions below using the internet. Click
on each internet link to help you hunt for the answers to the questions in each section.
The internet link for that section will help you hunt for the correct answers for those
certain questions. Pick any 3 of your choice to complete. Do all and earn extra credit!
After digging up all the treasure, move to the Big Question at the end to bring your
answers together into one final big answer (at least three sentences). Happy Hunting!

Questions
The Curse of the Chicken Pox
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/chicken_pox.html
1. The scientific name for chicken pox is __________ __________ and is caused
by _____________ (choose from: a bacterium, a virus, or some other organism).
2. Can you catch chicken pox from a chicken? ______ If not, then how do you
catch chicken pox?
3. Lets say you have a friend in class who has never had chicken pox. Is there a
vaccine for chicken pox that your friend could get to avoid ever getting chicken
pox? Circle: Yes No
Measles
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/measles.html
1. What is another name for measles (starts with an r)?
2. List four symptoms that occur usually a few days before the rash.

3. Is there a vaccine for measles (explain your answer)?

What is Smallpox?
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/infection/smallpox.html
1. Smallpox is a very serious illness caused by __________________.
(choose from: a bacterium, a virus, or some other organism).
2. A doctor can recognize smallpox because it causes a ________ that shows up as
___________ on the skin similar, but different, to chickenpox.
3. Is there a vaccine for smallpox (explain your answer)?

Lyme Disease
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/infections/skin_rashes/lyme_disease.html
1. Could you get Lyme disease from a tick bite?
2. Hunt for the scientific name for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
______________ ________________
3. Is there a vaccine for Lyme disease (explain your answer)?
The Woes of Whooping Cough
http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/heart/whooping_cough.html
1. Hunt for the other name of whooping cough (starts with a p).
2. Why is whooping cough called whooping cough (explain symptoms)?
3. Is there a vaccine for whooping cough (explain your answer)?
Hepatitis
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/infection/hepatitis.html
1. What organ in your body does hepatitis infect?
2. One way to help keep yourself safe against Hepatitis B and C is
to _______ your hands.
3. Is there a vaccine for Hepatitis B (explain your answer)?

Big Question
Are vaccinations important to get? Why or why not?

Conclusion
Hope you found all the treasure and that you have learned some important information
about childhood diseases.