Common illnesses prevented by vaccines

While not all illnesses are common, the vaccines are still important to prevent an outbreak. Here are some of the most common illnesses that are prevented with proper vaccination.

1. Diphtheria: It is a condition where the throat is covered in a thick coating, making it almost impossible to breathe.
2. Pertussis: It causes severe coughing which can interfere with your child’s eating, breathing and even sleep. This is also referred to as whooping cough.
3. Tetanus: This is also known as lockjaw. It is a condition that leads to muscle spasm, which can make it difficult for your child to breathe. In severe cases, it can also lead to seizure or paralysis, and even death.
4. Measles: This causes very high fever, infection in the brain as well as pneumonia. It also causes rashes across the body.
5. Mumps: This can lead to very high fever, body ache, headache, hearing problems, deafness in severe cases, swelling in the glands and pain and swelling in ovaries and testes.
6. Rubella: Also known as German measles, it can lead to severe birth defects if the mother contracts it during pregnancy.
7. Polio: Polio can lead to paralysis or extreme weakness in the limbs. Even if the child recovers for the time being, the symptoms can return and cause the same problems.
8. Hib (also known as Haemophilus influenzae type B): Even though the name sounds similar to that of influenza, Hib is very different from influenza. It typically affects the brain and may cause meningitis. As a result, the child can suffer from deafness or sudden violent seizures. In some cases, it can also affect a child’s windpipe and lead to suffocation. In such a case, if not taken care in time, the condition can turn fatal.
9. Meningococcal disease: This is a very serious condition which can cause a sudden brain infection known as meningitis, and the results can be fatal. It can also cut off flow of blood to the hands and feet which can make the limbs useless permanently.
10. Hepatitis B: This can cause liver failure and can also pose a big risk for liver cancer.
11. Rotavirus: This spreads easily and causes severe diarrhoea.
12. Pneumococcal disease: This can cause ear infection, pneumonia, meningitis and various other infections.
13. Varicella: Also known as chicken pox, it causes severe rashes on the body and can also lead to pneumonia and swelling in the brain.

Make sure to speak to your baby’s doctor and understand more about the vaccination schedule.