Disease information
What you should know…
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
- Diphtheria causes a thick covering in the back of the throat. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and even death.
- Tetanus (lockjaw) enters the body through cuts, scratches, or wounds in the skin. Tetanus can cause muscle stiffness, painful muscle spasms, seizures, and even death. The painful tightening of the jaw muscles can prevent a person from opening their mouth or swallowing.
- Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly infectious disease that causes severe spells of coughing that may interfere with normal breathing. The coughing is often accompanied by a “whooping” sound, so pertussis is often called whooping cough. The cough may last for weeks. Pertussis can also cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death.
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. This serious disease can be transmitted when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected. Infants born to infected mothers are at higher risk, as well as infants/children of immigrants from areas with high rates of HBV infection.
- Polio
- Polio is a highly contagious disease, generally spread person-to-person through fecal–oral contact. It can be spread through the oral–oral route as well. The incidence of polio dramatically decreased after the introduction of inactivated polio vaccine in 1955.
When your child is immunized against the following diseases, the risk of coming down with one of them is very low.
Knowing When to Get Your Baby Vaccinated
Learn about the protection your baby may need
Preparing for Your Baby’s Doctor Visits
Make the most of your time at your baby’s checkups
Healthcare Professionals
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