Childhood Immunization
by: Erika Martinez
What is an Immunization?
An immunization is the process whereby a person becomes immune to a certain disease. Some of these diseases include: Polio, OPT, MMR, HIB, and Hepatitis B.
Polio?
Polio is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to paralysis, breathing problems, and sometimes even death.
OPT?
- Tetanus- also known as lockjaw causes painful muscle tightening and body stiffness the muscles tightening sometimes affects the head and neck and it'll be so bad that you won't be able to open your mouth, swallow, or sometimes even breathe
- Diphtheria- a diesease that causes a thick coating to form in the back of the throat and can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis, and death
- Pertussis- also known as whooping cough causes severe coughing that can make it hard to breath you will also vomit and have disturbed sleep.
MMR?
- Measles- fever, rash, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. other problems that have occurred were ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, brain damage, and death.
- Mumps- fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite. Other problems that occur include swelling of the testicles or ovaries, deafness, inflammation of the brain and meningitis and (rarely) death.
- Rubella- can cause fever, sore throat, rash, headache, and red, itchy eyes. Also, if a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.
HIB?
Haemophilus influenzae type B- is a serious disease caused by bacteria. It usually affects children under 5 years old. It can also affect adults with certain medical conditions. Your child could get this by being around children or adults who have the bacteria but may not know it.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B- a viral infection that attacks the liver. It is transmitted through contact of blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person.
Vaccinations?
I think it is important to get vaccinated. Vaccines are up to 90-100% affective. Most of these diseases are life threatening and by getting these vaccines you could possibly save you and your child's life.