Diseases for which there are vaccinations

You are unlikely to meet these if your child has been vaccinated, but this is what to watch out for.

Diphtheria

What it is
A serious illness, caused by diptheria toxin, affecting the airways and making breathing difficult.
Signs and symptoms
High temperature with severe difficulty in breathing because of a membrane covering the airway. The condition is serious and can be fatal. it is rare in this country because of the effectiveness of the vaccine. This disease will return unless we keep up a high vaccination rate amongst children.

Measles

What it is
A highly infectious and potentially fatal illness caused by the measles virus.
Signs and symptoms
Your baby will probably have a runny nose, a cough, a fever, red, watery eyes and a blotchy red rash, which starts behind the ears and spreads to the rest of the face and body. There are white spots on the inside of the cheeks on the third or fourth day. There will sometimes be vomiting and diarrhoea. Complications include breathing difficulties, ear infections and brain damage.
Incubation time
8–14 days. The illness is infectious from when the child develops the first signs (see above) until 4 days after the start of the rash.
What your doctor can do
Prescribe an antibiotic to prevent complications if a bacterial infection develops.
What you can do
If you think your baby has measles, call your doctor as it is a serious illness. Keep your child cool (see ‘Nursing a poorly baby’) and bathe sore eyes with cooled boiled water. If your child worsens, call your doctor again.

Mumps

What it is
An illness caused by a virus, which affects the salivary glands.
Signs and symptoms
Your baby may have a fever, dry mouth, and difficulty swallowing.
A swelling will appear below the ears and around the jaws, on one or both sides of your baby’s face.
Incubation time
14-21 days. The infectious period starts a few days before, and continues until about 5 days after, the swellings appear.
What your doctor can do
Prescribe antibiotics for any secondary infections.
What you can do
Call your doctor if you think your baby has mumps. Give your baby plenty of drinks, and soft foods. Keep your baby cool (see ‘Nursing a poorly baby’) while she has a temperature. Give the correct dose of liquid medicine if your baby is in pain. Keep an eye on your baby; she may need further treatment if complications develop. If your child becomes drowsy and will not take fluids, or if you feel that she has worsened in any way, then call your doctor again.

Polio

What it is
A viral infection, poliomyelitis, which affects the central nervous system.
Signs and symptoms
Sore throat, fever, stiffness and muscle pains. Polio can cause limbs to become paralysed and sometimes affects the breathing muscles. It can lead to meningitis and can be fatal. Polio has become almost unknown in the UK since most babies are vaccinated against it, but it can be caught abroad, which is why it is so important that your baby is protected from this disease.

Rubella (German measles)

What it is
A virus that causes swollen glands and a rash.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms are usually mild in children and can include swollen glands behind the ears and a bright pink rash on the face and body. Rubella is only a serious illness if a mum-to-be catches it in the first three or four months of pregnancy; then there is a serious risk that her baby will be born with birth defects. It is for this reason that the Department of Health advises you to vaccinate your baby against rubella.
Incubation time
14–21 days. The infectious period starts roughly one week before, and lasts until 4 days after, the rash appears.
What your doctor can do
Treatment is not usually necessary.
What you can do
Give your baby drinks and plenty of rest.

Tetanus

What it is
A serious, often fatal, illness caused by tetanus toxin which affects the nervous system. Tetanus spores are present in soil and may get into the body through small wounds or scratches.
Signs and symptoms
Muscles become stiff, often starting in the jaw (lockjaw) before spreading. There are often painful muscular spasms. Tetanus spores in the soil can never be eradicated. Immunisation is very effective and it vital to prevent this serious disease. Tetanus is rare in this country because of the effective vaccine.

Whooping cough

What it is
A bacterial disease, which affects the respiratory system, and can be very dangerous.
Signs and symptoms
Whooping cough starts with a cold, fever and cough. The cough changes to an unmistakeable pattern of violent coughing bouts ending in a ‘whoop’ as your baby draws air back into her lungs. Some babies may turn blue and stop breathing instead of making the whooping noise. Vomiting sometimes follows the bouts of coughing and can lead to dehydration. Complications can include ear infections, convulsions, pneumonia, hernias and sometimes brain damage.
Incubation time
7–10 days. The infectious period starts 7 days after the child has been exposed to whooping cough and lasts for 3 weeks after the start of the symptoms. The child is most infectious during the initial stages when there is usually a rather irritating cough, and before the onset of the typical whoop.
What your doctor can do
Prescribe antibiotics to help reduce the severity of the illness.
What you can do
Call your doctor. Offer drinks and soft food after each coughing attack so that your baby stays nourished. Give rehydration fluids (available from the pharmacist or on prescription), if your baby isn’t keeping much down.
Incubation time
7–10 days. The infectious period starts 7 days after the child has been exposed to whooping cough and lasts for 3 weeks after the start of the symptoms. The child is most infectious during the initial stages when there is usually a rather irritating cough, and before the onset of the typical whoop.
What your doctor can do
Prescribe antibiotics to help reduce the severity of the illness.
What you can do
Call your doctor. Offer drinks and soft food after each coughing attack so that your baby stays nourished. Give rehydration fluids (available from the pharmacist or on prescription), if your baby isn’t keeping much down.