Tetanus, Diphtheria,
and Pertussis (Tdap Vaccine) (Español)
Diptheria
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection;
however, it is the toxin (poison) produced
by the bacteria that is responsible for damage caused by the disease.
Diphtheria can involve any membrane, and thus infects the nose, tonsils,
throat, eyes, genitalia, and skin. Diphtheria bacteria live in the mouth,
throat, and nose of an infected person, and it is most often spread to others
by coughing or sneezing.
The most common sites of infection are the throat and tonsils. Early
symptoms include a sore throat, mild fever, chills, and fatigue. The
diphtheria toxin causes a thick coating to form at the back of the throat,
which makes it difficult for the infected person to breathe or swallow.
Diphtheria is a serious disease; 5-10% of all persons with diphtheria
die, and the rate jumps to 20% in people older than 40 years of age or
younger than 5. The severity of the disease is related to the amount of
toxin absorbed by the infected person. The most frequent complications of
diphtheria are infection of the heart, nervous system, and respiratory
system. More on
Diphtheria
Tetanus
Tetanus (lockjaw) is an acute, often fatal, disease caused by a toxin
(poison) produced by a bacterium. Tetanus is not spread through human
contact, but rather enters the body through a wound. The wound may be major
or minor. In recent years, a higher proportion of cases occurred
with minor wounds; probably because severe wounds are more likely to be
properly managed.
Tetanus spores can be found in the soil and in the intestines and feces
of many household and farm animals and humans. People have gotten tetanus
from puncture wounds, such as those received from stepping on a nail, or from
cuts or scratches from barbed wire, splinters, animal or insect bites,
self-piercing, self-performed tattoos, and injecting drugs.
The environment
in which acute injuries have occurred include indoors or at home, in the
yard, garden, or farm, and other outdoor locations. The most common form of
the disease is generalized tetanus. As the toxin spreads through the body,
it causes lockjaw, neck stiffness with difficulty swallowing, stiffness of
the stomach muscle, and convulsive muscles spasms.
The spasms may occur
frequently and can last for several minutes. Complete recovery may take months,
and complications can include fractures of the spine or leg and arm bones. Even
today, 1 in 10 people who get tetanus die from it.
Almost all cases of tetanus occur in people who have never been
vaccinated, or who completed their childhood series, but have not had a
booster dose within 10 years.
More on Tetanus
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a severe respiratory disease easily spread
from person to person by coughing. It commonly occurs in Boulder County, and
affects people of all ages – infants, children, and adults. A total of 510
cases have been reported to Boulder County Public Health since 1999; over
half were in children between 10 and 19 years of age. On average, 83% of
adolescents infected with pertussis miss school for an average of 5.5 days.
Pertussis begins with cold-like symptoms and a mild cough. The cough then
progresses to paroxysms, or "fits" of coughing. Many people will gag or
vomit following a coughing spell, and children often make a high-pitched
whooping sound when they try to catch their breath. Children's lips,
fingernails, and face may turn blue during a coughing fit, because they
cannot get enough oxygen.
Between spells of coughing, the person may look
and feel fine, but the coughing spells can last 1-3 months. Up to 36% of all
cases are still coughing after 100 days.
Young infants are at highest risk from complications from pertussis.
Pertussis complications include pneumonia, seizures, brain involvement, and
lung damage due to the severe cough. In the last five years in Boulder
County, 53% of cases in infants younger than 12 months of age required
hospitalization. More on
Pertussis
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Please Note: All information is general
in nature and should
not substitute seeking proper medical
attention.
Citation: This information has been
compiled from resources provided by the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC). For more information on the CDC, visit their
website at:
www.cdc.gov/.
Immunization Program
Boulder County Public Health
3450 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304, (303) 413-7500
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