diphtheria/haemophilus/pertussis,acel/tetanus

Information, Symptoms, Treatments and Resources

What is diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?

Diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus are serious diseases caused by bacteria.
Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, and airway. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, or death.
Haemophilus influenzae can cause minor flu symptoms or it can cause more serious symptoms such as swelling around the throat, making it hard to swallow or breathe. Haemophilus influenzae can also cause swelling of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).
Pertussis (whooping cough) causes coughing so severe that it interferes with eating, drinking, or breathing. These spells can last for weeks and can lead to pneumonia, seizures (convulsions), brain damage, and death.
Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to "locking" of the jaw so the victim cannot open the mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about 1 out of 10 cases.
Diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound.
The diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine is used to help prevent these diseases in people who are ages 2 months to 5 years old.
This vaccine works by exposing your child to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.
Like any vaccine, the diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009