Causes and Symptoms of pertussis
Pertussis generally affects young children, although adults may also sometimes develop the disease. It is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis and occurs worldwide. The bacteria infects mainly the lining of the trachea and the bronchi. Once it is in contact with these linings it begins to multiply and thick mucus starts to build up.
The first symptoms of pertussis are similar to those of a cold, including sneezing, a runny nose, fever, a sore throat, a feeling of being unwell and a mild cough. The cough gradually becomes worse, breathing becomes hard and often leave the person gasping for breath. The coughing is worse at night and can last up to 1 or 2 months. Children who are under the age of 3 months may not make the typical ‘whooping’ cough noise but they may however start gasping or gagging when they cough and could even temporarily stop breathing.
Risk of long term damage from pertussis
Serious complications for younger children from pertussis can include ear infections, pneumonia, disorders of the brain, seizures and episodes of brief stopping of breathing when coughing. Other complications include dehydration, weight loss due to excessive vomiting and kidney failure. Complications for older children and adults are less serious than those complications for young children. These complications can include nosebleeds, bruised ribs due to the intensity of coughing, ulcers on the mouth and tongue and ear infections.
What may happen if you are not immunised
Side effects of immunisation
The vaccination for pertussis is called DTaP and protects against diphtheria and tetanus as well as pertussis. The most common side effects that are experienced because of this DTaP vaccine in young children include fever, redness and swelling at the injection side of the vaccine and also tenderness and soreness. A hard lump may appear around the area where the vaccination was given, but will disappear after a couple of weeks. The likes of long term brain damage and allergic reactions are rare with this DTaP vaccination.
Age group vaccine recommended for
The vaccine for pertussis comes in a 3-in-1 vaccine that protects not only against pertussis but also diphtheria and tetanus. The DTaP vaccine is generally injected into the arm of the thigh. And children who are under the age of 7 should not be given this vaccine.
Duration of immunity
The DTaP vaccine for pertussis should be given to children by the age of 18 months followed by a booster shot of the vaccine at the age of 4-6 years. After this booster shot they should be then given every 10 years to provide continuous protection against pertussis.
Disease – Tetanus
What is tetanus?
Tetanus is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani. It produces at toxin which affects the brain and nervous system. Another cause is by germs that get into open wounds on the body such as animal bites. The toxin leads to stiffness in the jaw muscles it also leads to stiffness in other muscles. The infection can cause serious breathing difficulties, severe muscles spasms and can even be fatal. Unlike diphtheria and pertussis, tetanus is no passed from person to person. ‘Tetanus is very rare in the UK because of the high levels of immunisation.’ (1)
Causes and Symptoms of tetanus
With clostridium tetani being the bacteria responsible for the disease. This bacteria can be found in a form of a spore. These spores are in soil, dust or animal waste. These spores can also enter the body through contamination with a wound. Even small wounds caused by thorn pricks can sometimes allow enough bacteria in to allow tetanus to take place in the wound. They can also get into the body via damaged skin from burns or from injecting contaminated street drugs. A strong nerve poison is produced once the spores enter the wounds and spreads through the body causing painful symptoms. It can take up to 20 days to develop once it is inside an individual’s body. Tetanus can be prevented not only by being immunised from it but also with proper care taking with wounds by cleaning them and removing any dead tissue. By using antibiotics for any contaminated or infected wounds can help reduce the chances of getting tetanus.
A headache and spasms or cramping of the jaw muscles are usually the first signs of tetanus. It then may start to involve other muscles such as in the neck or back and limbs of the individual as the tetanus starts to spread and attack more parts. First symptoms usually begin less than 2 weeks after the wound has happened, although it can range from 2 days to months. The more severe the disease is the shorter time there will be between exposure and the symptoms.
Risk of long term damage from tetanus
The main long term damage from this disease is asphyxia, exhaustion and even death. Asphyxia is the inability to breath and suffocation. Extreme exhaustion can take place. Children who have experiences symptoms of muscle spasms may have them for weeks or even months before they start to decrease. A spasm in the voice box can lead to death immediately. Fractures to limbs are results of spasms. Between one to four weeks is when the disease is most severe and dangerous. Other complications such as high blood pressure, clotting in the blood vessels of the lung may take place.
What may happen if you are not immunised
Side effects of immunisation
Some side effects that children may experience after having their tetanus vaccination are a slight swelling and redness may develop around the area in which they received the vaccination. These symptoms usually go within a couple of days and the child is left with no mark. Other side effects include a mild headache, aches and pains. They may also feel unwell or have a slight fever. All these side effects should disappear within a couple of days from having the vaccination. The same side effects occur for when an adult has the tetanus vaccination as when a child does.
Persons with wounds that are deep or dirty may need a tetanus booster shot if more than 5 years have passed since the last dose. An injection of tetanus immune globulin (TIG) given as soon as possible after a tetanus-prone injury can also help neutralize the poison that has not entered the nervous system.
Age group vaccine recommended for
A vaccine against tetanus has been available for many years. The vaccine is usually given to children in a combination with diphtheria and pertussis vaccines this is called a DTaP vaccine. There are two other vaccines that protect against tetanus as well as diphtheria but not pertussis like the DTP, these other vaccines are call the DT and Td vaccines. The DTaP can be given to children less than 7 years old and it is normally injected into the arm or the thigh.
Duration of immunity
The vaccine for tetanus (DTaP) should be given by the age of 18 months, and the child should then receive a booster shot between the age of 4-6 years. After that a recommended booster shot should be given every 10 years to keep providing protection.
Disease – Measles
What are measles?
The cause of measles is by an infection with the measles virus. It is a highly contagious viral disease and can be noticed by its red spots followed by a rash. It mainly occurs in children. However adults who get measles are more likely to be ill longer than children. Measles can also be very serious.
Causes and symptoms of measles
Measles are caught when a person breathes in tiny droplets that contain the measles virus. The disease is caused by the virus attaching to linings of airways and multiplying, as the virus lives in the back of the throat and lungs then spreads through the remaining parts of the body through the blood. Measles can also be caught from people who are infected with measles already by being in direct contact with fluid from the mouth or nose of the infected person. The virus can live in the air for 2 hours after an infected person leaves a room. Measles are very contagious and an uninfected person can even get measles by breathing the air in a room where an infected person has been.
Symptoms fore measles usually show up in two stages with the first stage being a runny nose, cough and a slight fever. This stage is as the infection is progressing, the eyes of the person infected become red and sensitive to light, the fever also rises. After 3-7 days the second stage beings. The fever again rises and a blotchy red rash appears and spreads from the face on to the chest, back, arms and legs. It may even spread onto the palms and soles of the feet. This rash can last from 4-7 days. In addition to a rash, small white spots may also appear on the inside of the cheeks and gums. Children who have measles have to take time of school, likewise for adults at work as it is highly contagious.
Risk of long term damage from measles
Complications from measles are more likely to occur in certain children such as those children with a weaker immune system, children with a poor diet and those children under the age of five. Adults of the age of 20 are more likely to develop complications from measles if they get them. These complications include diarrhoea, vomiting, eye infection such as conjunctivitis and laryngitis which is inflammation of the voice box. Infection of the inner ear may also be a complication of measles. Those complications just stated are the most common. The following are less common complications. These include pneumonia which is an infection to the lung, hepatitis infection to the liver, meningitis. The virus may also affect the nerves and muscles of the eye causing squint. Rare complications from measles include serious eye disorders such as an infection of the optic nerve and nervous system and heart problems.
What may happen if you are not immunised
Those who have not been immunized against measles are the main group of people at risk. Due to immunity passed on from their mothers children are generally protected from measles from 6-8 months after birth.
Side effects of immunisation
The vaccination for measles comes in a combination vaccine consisting of measles, mumps and rubella. This vaccination is called the MMR vaccination. Mild side effects of this vaccination include fever, mild rash, swelling of glands in the cheeks. If these side effects were to occur it would be usually within 7-12 days after having the vaccination. Moderate side effects include a seizure caused by fever, pain and stiffness in the joints. A rare severe side effect includes a serious allergic reaction.
Age group vaccine recommended for
Children who have already had measles or those vaccinated are unlikely to catch measles. Around the age of 13 months children should be given the first MMR vaccination. Before they start school a booster shot should be given. This booster jab will help increase protection. The measles vaccine is not usually given to children under the age of 13 months, however when a child who is younger than 13 is exposed to the measles virus, the action to prevent them developing the measles disease will depends on whether the child is over or under 6 months of age.
Duration of immunity
The immunity for the MMR vaccine appears to be long-lasting and may even be lifelong.
Disease – Mumps
What are mumps?
Mumps is a disease which is caused by the mumps virus which usually spreads through saliva and can infect many parts of the body. It mainly infects of one or more of the parotid glands. The location of these is below the ears and on either side of the face. The glands on either side of the face are found towards the back of each cheek and produce saliva for the mouth. With mumps these glands become painful and swell.
Causes and symptoms of mumps
Mumps is spread from person to person by direct contact with saliva and discharges from the nose and throat of those people who are infected with mumps. It can be spread from coughing sneezing and even just talking. It may also be spread by sharing utensils such as plates, cutlery and cups. The mumps virus goes into the respiratory system and into the glands where it starts to reproduce causing swelling and inflammation of the glands. The virus can also enter into the fluid which protects and surrounds the brain and spine, which can then spread to other parts of the body such as the brain itself testicles for males or ovaries for females, and also the pancreas.
Symptoms for mumps usually appear 14-25 days after first being infected with the mumps virus. The most common symptom of mumps is swelling of the parotid glands which are responsible for producing saliva and are located below the ears on either side of the face. Both parotid glands may swell but sometimes only one parotid gland may. As well as the swelling there may be pain and difficulty in swallowing because of the swollen glands which will cause difficulty in eating and drinking, especially drinking acidic juice such as orange juice. Other symptoms than those of the parotid glands include headaches, loss of appetite, fever, joint pain, mild abdominal pain. There may also be no apparent symptoms to relate to having a mumps infection in some cases
Risk of long term damage from mumps
Rare complications include swelling of the brain and other organs, as well as meningitis and encephalitis being a rare complication which can caused long term damage. Mumps may also causing complications with hearing such as hearing loss. Swelling and pain with the testicles may also occur for males and the same for the ovaries of females.
What may happen if you are not immunised
Side effects of immunisation
A vaccine called MMR which protects against mumps, as well as measles and rubella. There are mild side effects of this vaccination which include a mild rash, fever, swelling of glands in the cheeks. These side effects would normally occur within 7-12 once the vaccination has been done. Some moderate side effects can include a seizure caused by fever and also pain and stiffness with the joints. A serious allergic reaction is a rare side effect.
Age group vaccine is recommended for
The MMR vaccine can be given at any age most children however are given the vaccine around the age of 13 months. A booster shot should be given between the age of 3-5 when children generally start school. This is to provide further protection from mumps as well as measles and rubella.
Duration of immunity
The immunity for the MMR vaccine appears to be long-lasting and may even be lifelong.
Disease – Rubella
What is rubella?
Rubella is a contagious disease other names for rubella include German measles and three-day measles. What makes rubella dangerous is that in pregnant women it can harm the unborn baby, which may result in the pregnant woman having a stillbirth, miscarriage or serious birth defects. Rubella has almost been wiped out because of the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella.
Causes and symptoms of rubella
Rubella is caused by the rubella virus. People get rubella by breathing in droplets that get into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs or even talks. It can also be spread by direct contract with fluids from the throat or nose of an infected person.
Most cases of rubella are mild and about half of the people that get infected with rubella virus get a rash that is small with fine pink spots. The rash lasts about 3 days and first appears on the face and progresses from head to foot. Children usually develop either few or no other symptoms, adults can get a mild fever, reddened eyes, headaches, swollen glands behind the ears, joint pain or tiredness. The disease can be spread for as long as 5 days before the rash appears to 7 days after by an infected person. Those children infected with rubella should not attend school or day care. Between 16 to 18 days symptoms appear in most cases of rubella.
Risk of long term damage from rubella
It is not usually a serious disease for children, but for pregnant women who become infected with the rubella virus it can be very serious. If a woman becomes infected with rubella it can be fatal and caused death, especially within the first 3 months of the pregnancy. When a woman who is pregnant catches the rubella virus and it is likely to spread to the foetus and cause congenital rubella syndrome, effects of this include defects to the brain, eyes such as blindness, ears such as deafness and the heart. It can also lead to a miscarriage and a still birth. A blood test should be done when a woman is pregnant to find out whether she is protected against rubella. The chances of other people developing complications from rubella, depends on those who have a weakened immune system, such as people who have conditions such as HIV or leukaemia.
What may happen if you are not immunised
Side effects of immunisation
The MMR vaccine which protects against rubella as well as measles and mumps is made using live weakened strains of measles, mumps and rubella viruses. Mild side effects normally occur within 7-12 of the vaccination being received if there are going to be any, these side effects of this MMR vaccine can include fever, swelling to the gland in the cheeks as well as a mild rash. There may be some moderate side effects such as pain and stiffness in the joints or a seizure caused by fever, chances of a serious allergic reaction is rare.
Age group vaccine is recommended for
All children should be vaccinated to be protected from rubella and given the MMR vaccine which not only protects them from rubella but also measles and mumps. It should not be given to children under the age of 12 months because the antibodies that they received from their mothers before their birth may interfere with the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine. With a first dose of the MMR vaccine being given after the age of 12 months with a second dosage being given when the child is 4-6 years of age.
Duration of immunity
The immunity for the MMR vaccine appears to be long-lasting and may even be lifelong.