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