why children lose their hearing and what we can do 209
To make an iodine solution to drink:
Add 1 drop of Lugol’s iodine to 1 glass of clean drinking water or
milk. Drink this once a week. Store iodine at room temperature
and in dark containers to protect it from light.
Rubella (German measles)
Rubella usually causes only a slight rash and gives the person no other
problems. But if a woman who is pregnant gets rubella during the
first 3 months of pregnancy, her child may be born deaf or with
other serious problems.
Prevention:
• Give rubella vaccination to girls before
they are old enough to have babies. If
vaccination is not available, let young girls
build a resistance to rubella before they are old enough to have
children. They can visit people in the community who have rubella.
They may catch the infection and develop resistance.
• If girls and women have not been vaccinated or have not had rubella
by the time they are old enough to have children, they should
prevent deafness in their babies, if they are or might be pregnant, by
staying away from people with rubella.
Tuberculosis (TB)
Children of mothers who have tuberculosis during pregnancy sometimes
get a type of meningitis called ‘tubercular meningitis’ in the first few
months of life. This can cause deafness.
To treat tuberculosis
If anyone in the family might have tuberculosis, seek medical help and
see that the whole family is tested for TB. Begin treatment at once. Many
governments give the medicines for free. Early and full treatment is the key
to prevent the spread of TB. For more information on treating tuberculosis see
Where There Is No Doctor or another general health book.
Prevention:
• Immunize children against tuberculosis with the BCG vaccine.
• Everyone, especially children, should eat plenty of nutritious foods.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)