Vaccine preventable disease are avoidable  when the child receives the recommended immunizations on time. These diseases are on a decline due to vaccines available . However without the vaccines, epidemics of most of these diseases may return. Babies usually get these diseases from other children or adult who may not even know they are infected.
 

 

Vaccine preventable diseases

 
Diphtheria : It results in a thick coating at the back of the throat which makes it difficult to breathe. This disease can lead to breathing difficulties , paralysis and heart failure.

 
Varicella ( Chicken pox) : This usually causes a rash, itching , tiredness and fever. Varicella can lead pneumonia , infection of the brain or death.

Measles (Rubeola) : Measles  is a very contagious infection which is characterized by  rash, fever, cough and watery eyes. This  vaccine preventable disease can cause pneumonia , brain damage , seizures or death.

Mumps : The mumps virus causes headaches, fever and  swollen salivary glands under the jaws. Mumps may develop into mild meningitis  and sometimes encephalitis.

Rubella ( German measles) : Symptoms include mild fever, swollen glands and  a rash that last about 3 days. If a pregnant woman  gets rubella , she stands the chance of losing  the baby . The baby can also be born  blind, deaf, mentally retarded , with heart defects or other serious symptoms.

Tetanus (Lockjaw) : Signs of tetanus include painful tightening of muscles usually all over the body. It can  also lead to stiffness of the jaw that may make it difficult to open your mouth to swallow.

Pertussis (whooping cough) : This is characterized by  violent coughing spells which makes it difficult for the child to breathe, eat or drink. The cough may last for several weeks. Whooping cough can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage or death.

Polio : Polio may result in a flu-like illness. It can also be asymptotic.  This childhood killer disease can lead to permanent paralysis ( can’t move arms , legs or even breath ) and even death.

Hib (Hemophilia influenza type B) : Hib is characterized by headache, fever, stiff neck, cough and shortness of breath.  In mild cases, this vaccine preventable disease may be asymptomatic. It can also lead to meningitis, pneumonia, infections of the bone, blood, joints and covering of the heart, brain damage and deafness. Before the vaccine, Hib was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children under 5 years of age.

Hepatitis B : Hepatitis B causes tiredness, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice and pain in the muscles, joints and stomach. This disease is usually asymptomatic.  It can lead to liver damage and liver cancer.  Some people may develop chronic hepatitis B infection. These people may not look sick but can still infect others.

Pneumococcal infections : Symptoms include fever, chills , cough and chest pain. It can also lead to meningitis, blood infection, ear infections, pneumonia, deafness and brain damage.
 
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