Vaccine-preventable Diseases

The 12 routine childhood vaccines are designed to prevent, or decrease the risk of, 16 diseases. Some diseases are more common than others. Some are more serious than others. Certain diseases are more or less serious or common depending on a child’s age. Understanding these illnesses is an important step in making an educated decision regarding your child’s vaccines.
The Vaccine Book provides a detailed look at each disease and covers the following information:

• What each disease is and how it is transmitted
• How common, or rare, it is
• How serious, or mild, it is
• How it is prevented
• Whether or not it is treatable and what the expected treatment course would be
• How each disease affects children and adults differently at various ages
• Which diseases are most common and severe for infants
• Which ones are most severe for older children
• How to boost your child’s immune system to help prevent these diseases

Here is a very brief look at each of the vaccine-preventable diseases:

Haemophilus Influenza type B

This bacteria causes meningitis and bloodstream infections. It used to be extremely common, but is now very rare. Most cases are in infants or the elderly. It can be fatal.

Pneumococcal Disease

This bacteria causes meningitis, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia. It is still fairly common. Most cases are in infants or the elderly. It can be fatal.

Diphtheria

This bacteria causes a severe throat and upper lung infection. It can be fatal. It has been virtually eradicated from the U.S.

Tetanus

This bacteria causes weakness and paralysis when allowed to fester in a deep, dirty wound. It is fairly rare and occurs mainly in adults. It can be fatal.

Pertussis (whooping cough)

This bacteria causes severe coughing fits. Fatalities do occur, mainly in young infants. It is still a very common illness in the U.S.

Hepatitis B

This virus causes severe liver damage. It is a sexually transmitted disease, or contracted through other means of blood exposure. It is fairly common in adults, but very rare in infants and children. It can be fatal.

Rotavirus

This virus causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration in infants. It is extremely common and can be fatal.

Polio

This virus causes muscle weakness and paralysis. It can be fatal. It has been eradicated from the U.S. and entire western hemisphere.

Measles

This virus causes fever and rash. It can damage internal organs but is rarely fatal. It is now fairly rare in the U.S.

Mumps

This virus causes fever and rash. It can damage internal organs but is rarely fatal. It is now fairly rare in the U.S., although a recent epidemic did sweep through the Midwest.

Rubella

This virus causes fever and rash. It is now extremely rare in the U.S. It can cause birth defects if a pregnant mom is exposed
.

Chickenpox

This virus causes fever and rash. It is still very common, but fatalities are very rare.

Hepatitis A

This virus causes a severe intestinal “flu” and mild liver damage in adults. It is very mild in young children, however. It is fairly common, but virtually never fatal.

Flu

This virus causes the classic “flu”. It is extremely common and causes come fatalities in infants and elderly.

Meningococcal Disease

This bacteria causes severe bloodstream infections and meningitis. It isn’t very common, but has a high fatality rate when it does strike.

Human Papillomavirus

This virus causes genital warts and cervical cancer. It is extremely common and is passed through sexual contact.
For a more detailed discussion on these vaccine-preventable diseases, see

The Vaccine Book.