Childhood Vaccines Can Prevent These 8 Diseases
Diphtheria
Signs and symptoms include a thick covering in the back of the throat that can make it hard to breathe.
Diphtheria can lead to breathing problems, and heart failure.
Tetanus (Lockjaw)
Signs and symptoms include painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body.
Tetanus can lead to stiffness of the jaw so victims can’t open their mouth or swallow.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Signs and symptoms include violent coughing spells that can make it hard for a baby to eat, drink, or breathe. These spells can last for weeks.
Pertussis can lead to pneumonia, seizures, and brain damage.
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
Signs and symptoms can include trouble breathing. There may not be any signs or symptoms in mild cases.
Hib can lead to (infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings); pneumonia; infections of the blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart; brain damage; and deafness.
Hepatitis B
Signs and symptoms can include tiredness, diarrhea and vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), and pain in muscles, joints and stomach. But usually there are no signs or symptoms at all.
Hepatitis B can lead to liver damage, and liver cancer.
Polio
Signs and symptoms can include flu-like illness, or there may be no signs or symptoms at all.
Polio can lead to paralysis (can’t move an arm or leg).
Pneumococcal Disease
Signs and symptoms include fever, chills, cough, and chest pain.
Pneumococcal disease can lead to meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings), blood infections, ear infections, pneumonia, deafness, and brain damage.
Rotavirus
Signs and symptoms include watery diarrhea (sometimes severe), vomiting, fever, and stomach pain.
Rotavirus can lead to dehydration and hospitalization.
Any of these diseases can lead to death.
How do babies catch these diseases?
Usually from contact with other children or adults who are already infected, sometimes without even knowing they are infected. A mother with Hepatitis B infection can also infect her baby at birth. Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound; it is not spread from person to person.
More Resources:
What is a Vaccine: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/vaccines/understanding/Pages/whatVaccine.aspx
Vaccine Resources at CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html
Reye’s Syndrome: http://www.reyessyndrome.org
CDC Vaccine Video, Get The Picture: http://www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/GetThePicture/index.html
CDC: Vaccinations
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