Dangerous diseases that require vaccination from a young age

Thanks to vaccines, people can prevent many diseases that cause serious complications such as polio, tetanus, flu, diphtheria, hepatitis, chickenpox.

Diseases that can be prevented by vaccines

Paralysis

This is a paralyzing and potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the polio virus. The virus is transmitted from person to person and can invade the brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis. Thanks to vaccines, this dangerous disease has been eliminated. Continued vaccination has saved the world from the unfortunate risk of life and serious health effects caused by polio. However, the disease still poses a threat in some countries. Ensuring that infants and children are vaccinated is the best way to prevent polio.

Tetanus

Tetanus vaccine is given in a combination vaccine for both diphtheria and pertussis.

The disease causes painful stiffness in the muscles and jaw joints and can lead to death. Parents should remind children not to scratch or use any part of the body that comes into contact with metal to create a scratch because it can be a risk for tetanus. Tetanus vaccine is now given in a combination vaccine for diphtheria and pertussis.

Flu

A respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs, influenza affects people in different ways depending on their immune system, age and health status. The disease can be dangerous for children of all ages, with symptoms including cough, fever, aches and pains, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea.

Estimates of the number of children under 5 years of age hospitalized with influenza in the United States since 2010 range from 7,000 to 26,000. Children under 6 months of age are more likely to be hospitalized with influenza but are too young to be vaccinated. The best way to protect children during this time is for their mothers to be vaccinated during pregnancy. In addition, all people who come into contact with the child should be fully vaccinated to avoid transmitting the disease to the child. It is recommended that everyone get a flu vaccine every year to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Hepatitis B

This is a disease that spreads through blood or other body fluids.

Every year, around 780,000 people die worldwide from complications related to hepatitis B. This disease is transmitted through blood or other body fluids. Hepatitis B is particularly dangerous for children because the virus can be passed from mother to child during birth. The fact that nine out of ten children are infected by their mothers is a good reason to consider giving their babies the hepatitis B vaccine immediately after birth. It is recommended that all pregnant women be tested for the disease and that their babies be vaccinated immediately after birth to prevent the disease.

Hepatitis A

The hepatitis A vaccine, developed in 1995, has dramatically reduced the incidence of the disease in the United States. Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that is spread through person-to-person contact or contaminated food or water. Vaccination can help protect children from the disease.

Rubella

Rubella is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The disease is especially dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn babies. If a pregnant woman is not vaccinated and infected with rubella, she is likely to have a miscarriage and the baby may die after birth. In addition, the baby can also be infected by the mother, leading to serious birth defects.

Disease caused by Hib bacteria

Hib, whose full name is Haemophilus influenzae type b, is not widely known thanks to vaccines. Hib can cause serious damage to a child's immune system and can cause brain damage, hearing loss, and even death. Hib most commonly affects children under the age of five.

Before the vaccine, up to 20,000 children in the United States were affected by this strain each year. Of those, one in five suffered brain damage and hearing loss. Even with treatment, one in 20 children with Hib meningitis died.

Measles

Anyone can get infected if they are in the same space as an infected person.

This is a highly contagious disease that can be very serious in young children. Anyone can get it if they are in the same space as someone who has the disease, even if they have been away for several hours. The disease is common in many parts of the world, so people who are not vaccinated can still get it when they travel.

Whooping cough

A highly contagious and potentially fatal disease in infants, whooping cough can cause severe, uncontrollable coughing spells that can lead to difficulty breathing. In infants, whooping cough can cause breathing to stop before they have any symptoms of coughing.

Since 2010, approximately 15,000-50,000 children in the United States have contracted whooping cough each year. The disease is especially dangerous for children too young to receive the vaccine, so pregnant women need to be vaccinated to protect their babies before they are born. Getting the whooping cough vaccine on schedule is crucial to help protect children from the disease.

Diseases caused by pneumococcus

The disease is caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumonia, which can lead to ear infections, sinusitis, pneumonia, and even meningitis, making it very dangerous for children. The pathogen can invade parts of the body that normally do not have bacteria, such as the brain or spinal cord.

Diseases caused by rotavirus

Rotavirus is highly contagious and can cause watery diarrhea, often accompanied by vomiting, fever and abdominal pain, mainly in infants and young children. The disease can cause severe dehydration and require hospitalization. Without necessary medical care, the child may die.

Mumps

Mumps is highly contagious and there is no treatment.

Mumps is typically characterized by swollen cheeks and a tight jaw due to swelling of the salivary glands. Other symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. Mumps is highly contagious and there is no cure. The disease remains an annual threat in the United States. In recent years, outbreaks of mumps have occurred in areas where there has been close, prolonged contact with an infected person. To prevent this, people should get the MMR vaccine, which protects against mumps, measles, and rubella.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox causes a rash, itching, blisters, and fever. People with chickenpox may develop many blisters. The disease can become serious and life-threatening in children, adults, and people with weakened immune systems. It is also recommended that healthy children get the chickenpox vaccine because they can still get the disease.

Diphtheria

The DTaP vaccine protects against three diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Although it can be prevented, diphtheria still exists. The disease can cause a thick coating in the back of the nose or throat that makes it difficult to breathe or swallow. Diphtheria can also cause heart failure, paralysis, or even death.