Pertussis, Tetanus & Diphtheria

Facts about Whooping Cough for Adults

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough (also called pertussis), is a serious infection that spreads easily from person to person. The infection causes coughing spells that are so severe that it can be hard to breathe, eat or sleep. Whooping cough can even lead to cracked ribs, pneumonia or hospitalization. In the past, whooping cough was kept at bay by infant and childhood immunization. It is now known that protection from childhood whooping cough vaccination wears off by the teen years. Adolescents and adults are at risk for the infection.

Experts estimate that up to one million cases of whooping cough occur each year in the United States, across all age groups.

Health officials now recommend that adults and adolescents receive a Tdap* booster vaccine to protect against whooping cough. It is especially important for those in contact with infants younger than 12 months of age. * This is instead of the previously recommended Td (tetanus-diphtheria) booster

Whooping cough can be:

• Spread before symptoms appear.
• Passed to vulnerable infants - those who have not yet received any or all of their vaccines. For babies, complications can be severe, even deadly.
• Tough to diagnose because early symptoms may appear like the common cold or bronchitis. The classic symptom is a "whoop" - the sound of someone gasping for breath during a bad coughing spell. But you can have the infection without the "whoop."
 

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This serious infectious disease is on the rise in the United States, across all age groups.

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Protection against whooping cough from early childhood vaccines wears off. Adolescents and adults are at risk for infection.

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Whooping cough causes coughing spells that can affect breathing, eating and sleeping. The infection can even lead to cracked ribs and hospitalization.

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Adults and adolescents can spread whooping cough to young infants who have not had all their vaccines. Babies are at greatest risk for serious complications, even death.

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Two booster vaccines for whooping cough are now available. One can be used for adults and adolescents. The other has been approved for adolescents only.

 

Facts about Tetanus for Adults

What is tetanus?

Tetanus, commonly called lockjaw, is a bacterial disease that affects the nervous system. It is contracted through a cut or wound that becomes contaminated with tetanus bacteria. The bacteria can get in through deep puncture wounds or cuts like those made by nails or knives, but even a scratch provides an entryway. Tetanus bacteria are present worldwide and are commonly found in soil and most surfaces. The infection causes severe muscle spasms, leading to "locking" of the jaw, making it hard to open the mouth or swallow. In severe cases, tetanus infections may lead to death by suffocation. Tetanus is the only vaccine-preventable disease that is not transmitted from person to person.

What are the symptoms?

Common first signs of tetanus are a headache and muscular stiffness in the jaw (lockjaw) followed by stiffness of the neck, difficulty swallowing, hardening of abdominal muscles, spasms, sweating and fever. Symptoms usually begin around eight days after infection, but may range in onset from three days to three weeks.

How can tetanus be prevented?

Vaccination is the best way to protect against tetanus. Due to widespread immunization, tetanus is a rare disease in the U.S. Most people receive their first dose as children in the form of a combined vaccine called DTaP (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis). Health officials now recommend that adults and adolescents receive a Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis) booster vaccine to protect against three diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). This recommendation is instead of the previously recommended Td (tetanus-diphtheria) booster.

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Tetanus is caused by a toxin produced by a type of bacteria found worldwide in soil and most surfaces.

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Tetanus can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine.

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Almost all reported cases of tetanus occur in persons who have either never been vaccinated, or those who completed a primary series but have not had a booster vaccination in the past 10 years.

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People with tetanus may have to spend several weeks in the hospital under intensive care.

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Tetanus is not transmitted from one person to another.

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Recovery from tetanus illness may not result in lifelong immunity. Another infection could occur unless immunization is provided soon after the person's condition has stabilized.

Facts about Diphtheria for Adults

What is diphtheria?

Diphtheria is an acute bacterial disease that usually affects the tonsils, throat, nose and/or skin. The disease is passed from person to person by droplet transmission, usually by breathing in diphtheria bacteria after an infected person has coughed, sneezed or even laughed. It can also be spread by handling used tissues or by drinking from a glass used by an infected person. Diphtheria can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis and sometimes death. What are the symptoms?

In its early stages, diphtheria may be mistaken for a severe sore throat. Other symptoms include a low-grade fever and enlarged lymph nodes (swollen glands) located in the neck. Diphtheria can cause skin lesions that may be painful, red and swollen. Symptoms usually appear two to four days after infection, with a range of one to six days. People carrying diphtheria germs are contagious for up to four weeks without antibiotic therapy, even if they themselves do not develop symptoms.

How can diphtheria be prevented?

There is a vaccine for diphtheria. Most people receive their first dose as children in the form of a combined vaccine called DTaP (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis). Health officials now recommend that adults and adolescents receive a Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis) booster vaccine to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). This recommendations is instead of the previously recommended Td (tetanus-diphtheria) booster.

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Diphtheria is transmitted to others through close contact with discharges from an infected person's nose, throat, eyes and/or skin lesions.

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Diphtheria can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine.

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Diphtheria can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis and sometimes death.

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Nearly one out of every 10 people who get diphtheria will die from it.

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Most cases of diphtheria occur among unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated people.

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Recovery from diphtheria is not always followed by lasting immunity, so even those persons who have survived the disease need to be immunized.

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Although no longer a very common disease in the United States, diphtheria remains a large problem in other countries and can pose a serious threat toUnited States citizens who may not be fully immunized and who travel to other countries or have contact with immigrants or international travelers coming to the U.S.