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Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
Diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), and pertussis (whooping cough) are serious diseases. Diphtheria and pertussis spread when germs pass from an infected person to the nose or throat of another person. Tetanus is caused by a germ that enters the body through a cut or wound.
Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, or airway. This coating may lead to breathing problems, pneumonia, heart failure, paralysis, and death.
Tetanus causes serious, painful spasms of all muscles. It can lead to ''locking'' of the jaw so the patient cannot swallow or open his or her mouth, breathing problems, muscle spasms, and death.
Pertussis causes coughing and choking for several weeks (makes it hard for infants to eat, drink, or breathe). It can lead to pneumonia, seizures (jerking and staring spells), brain damage, and death.
Benefits. Vaccination is the best way to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Because most children get the DTP vaccines, there are now many fewer cases of these diseases. There would be many more cases if we stopped vaccinating children.
DTP Schedule. Most children should have a total of five DTP vaccinations. They should have DTP at:
Related Vaccines. DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis vaccine) is similar to DTP. It also prevents diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. It is only given for the 4th and 5th doses. This vaccine is less likely to cause the mild problems seen after DTP and is probably less likely to cause some of the moderate problems.
DT (Diphtheria and Tetanus) vaccine does not prevent pertussis. For this reason, it is usually not recommended.
Most doctors recommend that almost all young children get the DTP or DTaP vaccine. Some children should get DT. With all vaccines, there are some cautions.
Tell your doctor or nurse if the child getting the vaccine:
As with any medicine, there are very small risks. Serious problems, even death, could occur after receiving a vaccine. The risks from the vaccine are much smaller than the risks from getting these diseases. A list of problems that may occur after getting the vaccine follows:
If your child has ever had one of the moderate or severe problems listed or any other serious problem after DTP, DTaP, or DT, talk with your doctor or nurse before this vaccination.
Mild Problems. If problems occur, they usually start within hours to a day or two after vaccination. They usually last up to 1-2 days:
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen (non-aspirin products) may be used to prevent or reduce fever and soreness. It is especially important to reduce a fever in any child who has had seizures previously or has a parent, brother, or sister who has had seizures.
Moderate Problems. The following problems happen once in every 100-1,000 doses and are somewhat more serious:
Severe Problems. Severe problems happen very rarely:
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
If you want to know more about vaccines, ask your doctor, nurse, or health care provider for the vaccine package insert or other sources of information. You can also visit the CDC web site at http://www.cdc.gov/nip.
Adapted and reprinted with permission, U.S. Government Printing Office: 1994 - 582-420/20029. U.S. Department of Health Human Services. Public Health Service. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DTP 6/10/94.
Last Revised - 01/01/2003
The MedMaster Patient Drug Information database provides information copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland Copyright© 2004. All Rights Reserved.
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