While antibiotics and hospitalization may treat Diphtheria, the best approach is prevention by vaccination. The DTaP vaccine however does not offer lifetime protection from the disease. Boosters are needed to keep up protection from diphtheria.

Whooping cough disease starts like the common cold, but after 1–2 weeks, violent, uncontrollable coughing begins which makes it hard to breathe. About half of babies younger than 1 year of age who get whooping cough end up in the hospital, and a few even die from the disease.

Many babies who get whooping cough are infected by older relatives or adults who might not even know they have the disease. To help protect babies with vaccines:

Tetanus germs enter the body through cuts or puncture wounds caused by contaminated objects, and produce a poison that causes painful muscle spasms (jaw muscles tighten (lockjaw), and trouble swallowing. 10-20% of cases are fatal.

Tetanus is a medical emergency requiring hospitalization and often, a machine to aid breathing may be required. Tetanus vaccine

(DTaP) can prevent infection and boosters are needed.

Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly virus infection. The virus spreads from person to person through contaminated food or water and can invade the person’s brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis.

Polio infection has no cure, and vaccination (IPV) is the best way to protect people and is the only way to stop the disease from spreading.

Haemophilus influenza can cause severe infections when the bacteria invade the body (e.g. pneumonia and meningitis). Disease occurs mostly in infants and children younger than five years of age. It can cause lifelong disability or death.

The Hib vaccine can prevent disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, and protects infants as young as eight weeks old.

Measles can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

Two doses of MMR vaccine increase the effectiveness.

Mumps virus infection starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and is followed by swelling of salivary glands.

There is no specific treatment for mumps but supportive care may be given. Mumps can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

Rubella virus Infection is usually mild with fever and rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body, lasting 2 or 3 days. Older children and adults may also have swollen glands.

Serious birth defects (e.g. deafness, cataracts, heart defects, mental retardation) can occur if a pregnant woman gets rubella. Rubella vaccine (contained in MMR vaccine) can prevent this disease.

Pneumococcus is a common cause of severe pneumonia, and other types of infections such as ear infections, sinus infections, meningitis and blood stream infection. Invasive pneumococcal disease is usually very severe, causing hospitalization or even death.

Although Pneumococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics, resistance is growing. The pneumococcal vaccine has successfully reduced antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal infections.

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, with a blister-like rash, itching, and fever. It spreads easily in the air through coughing, sneezing or by touching the chickenpox blisters. Serious infection can occur in babies, adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the varicella vaccine. Most people who get the vaccine will not get chickenpox, but if a vaccinated person does get it, it is usually mild with fewer blisters and mild or no fever.

Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of severe diarrhea in infants and children. It is an infection easily spread through fecal – oral route, when an infant or child puts a toy, water, food or hands in their mouth which has the virus. Infants

and children at day care are mostly at risk and it

may lead to dehydration requiring hospitalization

Vaccination and frequent handwashing are the best ways to reduce the spread of rotavirus infection and disease. The vaccine is given by mouth. It is not an injection. Two doses are recommended for maximum protection and can safely be given with other vaccines.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STI) and can be spread by vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It can cause genital warts and cancer in both males and females (cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, and throat)

There is no known treatment for HPV. Sometimes it resolves without treatment. When HPV does not go away, it can cause genital warts and cancer. It is recommended that males and females aged 11 – 12 be given the vaccine to protect them before they are exposed to the virus. The HPV vaccine is given as a 2 dose series. 

Hepatitis B virus infection causes liver disease

ranging from mild illness lasting a few weeks (acute) to serious, lifelong (chronic) illness when the virus remains in a person’s body. Chronic Hepatitis B can result in long-term health problems, and even death. Hepatitis B can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby at birth.

The best way to prevent Hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated with Hep B vaccine.

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Serious complications of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death. Older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions are at high risk for serious flu complications.

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated with the Flu vaccine each year.