Childhood illness

Here is some brief information about some serious childhood illness that we offer vaccines against. Whilst most people are vaccinated, these diseases are rare. As vaccine rates fall, the diseases quickly return. When worrying about the side-effects of vaccines, we should not forget how nasty the diseases were. (and will be again if we let them)

Diphtheria

Acute infection of the nose and throat and occasionally of skin, heart and nervous system.
Complications persistent skin ulcers, loss of vocal chord function (lost voice) and death.
Killed a lot of small children in 1900s, but extremely rare in UK since the introduction of the vaccine program

Tetanus

Infection in dirty wounds, releases a toxin into the blood stream causing muscle spasms all round the body but especially in the back, neck, jaw (lock jaw) and limbs. Generalised painful contractions, like fits, can occur, followed by death

Pertussis

(whooping cough)
Infection of nose and throat leading to severe bouts of coughing followed by vomiting. Characteristic "whoop" is attempt to breath in between coughing spasms. Can last 1 -3 months.
Complications;

  • 1 in 8 develop pneumonia
  • 1 in 20 develop encephalopathy (brain damage)
  • 1 in 200 die

Polio

Variable viral infection, sometimes with no symptoms at all, sometimes with fever, headaches, vomiting, neck stiffness, and photophobia (disliking the light). 80% occurs in under 3 years old.

  • 1 - 5% get polio-myelo-encephalitis
  • 1% get persistent lower limb paralysis

Haemophilus Influenzae type B

Bacterial infection usually in under 5s.
  • 60% develop meningitis
    • 1 in 3 get brain damage including
      • Intellectual impairment
      • Fits
      • Hearing or visual loss
      • Physical disability
      • Behavioral disturbances
  • 15% develop epiglottitis
    a throat infection that causes swelling and complete blockage of the throat.
  • 10% develop septicaemia
    where infection spreads through the blood stream.
  • 1 in 20 die
Almost unseen in our area since the introduction of the vaccine.

Meningococcal C

A variety of Meningitis, usually in under 5s or teenagers. Before the vaccine, this type was responsible for 40% of meningitis cases.
Causes headache, fever, vomiting, stiff neck, aching joints and photophobia (disliking the light). Going on to drowsiness, confusion, coma and death.
8 out of 10 get a non-blanching fine red rash.

Measles

Viral infection of nose and throat, causing fever, runny nose, sore eyes, cough and a distinctive rash all over body.

  • 1 in 20 develop ear infections
  • 1 in 200 have fits
  • 1 in 1,000 develop encephalitis
    • 15% of these die
  • 1 in 2,500 die
With falling vaccine rates, measles is returning. After 10 years with no local cases, the disease is back

Mumps

A viral illness with fever and swollen face. The gland in front of the ears, over the angle of the jaw, swells.

  • 1 in 25 develop hearing loss
  • 1 in 4 boys get painful swelling of the testis. which can permanently damage the testis leading to infertility.
  • Can cause miscarriage if caught in pregnancy
As with Measles after 10 years with no cases, we have had several outbreaks locally this year.

Rubella

(German Measles)
A viral infection that causes either no symptoms (50%) or a low grade fever with joint aches and a non descript rash where pink spots merge together.

  • If caught in early pregnancy, 9 in 10 develop "congenital rubella syndrome" in unborn baby
    • Severe brain damage
    • Hearing and visual loss
  • 1 in 6000 develop encephalitis (like meningitis)
  • 1 in 500 develop blood changes, making them vulnerable to bleeding.