| One of the worst times in a young mother's | | | | coughs. Recovery could take months. This |
| life is the first time that she has to take | | | | disease can have serious complications |
| her baby to be vaccinated. It probably | | | | including bacterial pneumonia and rib |
| bothers her more than it does the infant. | | | | fractures. In infants it can lead to apnea |
| Looking at her baby's vaccination schedule, | | | | (breathing stops), seizures, encephalopathy, |
| the new mother can tell which shot that her | | | | and death. The DTaP vaccination protects a |
| baby is receiving, but she may have no idea | | | | child from all three of these diseases. |
| about what it is for. Understanding what | | | | Beginning at the age of two months, infants |
| disease that a vaccine is used against can | | | | are given five different doses of this |
| help a young mother understand the need for | | | | vaccination up until they are eighteen months |
| them. One of the most common vaccines on a | | | | old. The second dose should be given at the |
| vaccination schedule is DTaP or just DPT, | | | | age of four months. The third should follow |
| which stands for diphtheria, tetanus, and | | | | at the age of six months. The fourth dose |
| petussis. Diphtheria is a respiratory disease | | | | should be administered at the age of eighteen |
| caused by bacteria. It is spread by coughing | | | | months. A fifth vaccination should be given |
| and sneezing and usually begins as a sore | | | | to a child between four and six years of age. |
| throat and a low-grade fever. This disease | | | | Along with the DTaP vaccine, there are other |
| can cause the airway to become obstructed. | | | | vaccines available to prevent diphtheria, |
| Without treatment, this obstruction can lead | | | | tetanus, and pertissus. DT can be used as a |
| to a coma and even death. Tetanus (also | | | | substitute vaccination for children who |
| called Lockjaw) is a disease that is caused | | | | cannot take the pertissus vaccine. Td is a |
| by bacteria and affects the nervous system. | | | | tetanus-diphtheria vaccine that is the |
| It usually enters through a break in the skin | | | | tetanus shot that is familiar to most people. |
| (most people associate it with stepping on a | | | | These are booster shots that are given to |
| rusty nail), and causes lockjaw, stiffness in | | | | adolescents and adults every ten years, |
| the neck and abdomen, and difficulty | | | | unless an injury occurs. TdaP is the same as |
| swallowing in the first stages. Later | | | | Td except that this shot contains the |
| symptoms can include severe muscle spasms, | | | | pertissus vaccine and is recommended for |
| severe autonomic nervous system disorders, | | | | children eleven to twelve years of age. The |
| and generalized tonic seizure-like activity. | | | | fact that adults receive booster shots of the |
| This disease results in death in about 10% to | | | | tetanus vaccine can be used as proof of how |
| 20% of patients. Pertussis Disease is another | | | | dangerous these diseases are. Anyone with an |
| respiratory disease that is caused by | | | | infant should make sure that their child gets |
| bacteria. It is also spread by coughing and | | | | his vaccinations done. The consequences of |
| sneezing. This disease's symptoms resemble | | | | not doing so could be deadly. |
| those of a common cold. These include a runny | | | | |
| nose, sneezing, a low-grade fever, and a | | | | We have baby gift baskets that are cute and |
| cough. After a couple of weeks, the victim | | | | practical. Perfect for the newborn and new |
| may experience bursts of numerous rapid | | | | moms. |