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Fast Fact

The DTaP vaccine is a newer version of the older DPT vaccine. DTaP is designed to immunize against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.
Diphtheria is a very serious bacterial disease that can make a person unable to breathe, cause paralysis, or even heart failure.
About 10% of the people who get diphtheria die from it. Before the DPT shot was introduced, 17,000 children died in a single year in the United States alone in a diphtheria epidemic.
Over the last several years, only a very few cases of diphtheria have been reported in the United States. In 1988 there were zero cases. This is primarily because most children have had shots to protect them.
Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is caused by a bacterium that is common in the soil. When this germ gets into an open cut or wound, an unprotected person can contract tetanus, which creates serious muscle spasms that can be strong enough to snap the spine.
Even with modern medical care, about 30% of the people who get tetanus die from the disease.
Tetanus was once very widespread, but since 1975 only 50 to 100 cases have been reported each year in the United States.
Pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, can either be a very mild or a very serious disease. It is extremely contagious. It causes repeated spells of coughing that can make it difficult to eat, drink, or breathe.
The number of pertussis cases has climbed in recent years. In 2004, there were 25,827 reported cases.
In most adults, pertussis is very mild. Almost 20% of all adults with chronic coughs may have pertussis that they mistake for allergies or a cold.
In young children it is more severe. It causes repeated spells of coughing that can make it difficult to eat, drink, or breathe.
Babies under 1 year old are most affected. About 1 out of every 200 babies who get pertussis will die of it. Another 1 out of every 200 will have lifetime brain damage. As many as 2% will have seizures, 22% will get pneumonia, and many (even in this modern era of reduced hospitalization) will be sick enough to be hospitalized.
Moderate reactions to the DTaP vaccine occur in 0.1% or less of children and include ongoing crying (for three hours or more), a high fever (up to 105 degrees F), and an unusual, high-pitched crying.
Less than 0.06% of children will have a febrile seizure or a period of shock-collapse, where they become pale and limp for a short period. While these side effects are certainly disturbing, all of the above problems are temporary and have never been demonstrated to create a long-term problem of any kind.
Severe problems from the DTaP immunization happen very rarely (less than 1 in a million doses or less than 0.0001%). These include a serious allergic reaction, a prolonged seizure, a decrease in consciousness, lasting brain disease, or even death.
Major epidemiological studies looking at neurologic risks related to immunization have been unable to demonstrate a causal relationship between DPT and any severe, chronic neurologic disorder.
Many of the reactions to the older DPT (or DTP) injection were from the pertussis component. Children in the United States now receive the newer DTaP vaccine rather than the older DPT vaccine. The DTaP vaccine is a newer and safer vaccine because the pertussis component has been changed.

see Fast Facts about the DTaP Vaccine »

Childrens Health Archive March 2009

If you missed an article or just haven’t been here in a while, click on a link to see DrGreene.com’s additions by year and month.

| 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 |
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| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August |
September | October

Daily Dose

March 30, 2009		Purple Day is a Shining Example of How WE Can Change Health Care
March 30, 2009		ADHD Drugs Disappoint Down the Road
March 25, 2009		Lights Out for Earth Hour 2009!
March 20, 2009		A Victory Garden, of Sorts
March 19, 2009		Bringing the Outdoors In
March 17, 2009		5 Organic Foods Every Woman Should Eat
March 12, 2009		Conflicting Priorities - When Going Green Gets In The Way
March 03, 2009		Baby-Bottle Tooth Decay

As Seen on the Net

March 26, 2009		In Honor of Purple Day
March 26, 2009		Purple Day Sightings: Farmer’s Market
March 26, 2009		Purple Day Sightings: On the way to the office
March 26, 2009		Purple Day Sightings: In the coffee shop
March 26, 2009		Purple Day Thistle
March 25, 2009		Purple Day Hyacinth
March 25, 2009		In Support of Purple day!
March 24, 2009		Purple Day - Wisteria and Mountains for Cassidy
March 17, 2009		Dr. Greene Goes Glam for Glamour Magazine
March 03, 2009		Baby Acne

Perspectives

March 31, 2009		Failure at the FDA?
March 30, 2009		We are a nation of 300 million eaters
March 27, 2009		I’ve Learned I’m Not Alone
March 26, 2009		It May Not Be What You Think It Is
March 25, 2009		It Was Amazing!
March 24, 2009		Purple Day Goes International
March 23, 2009		The First Purple Day
March 20, 2009		A Little Girl, With a Big Vision!
March 18, 2009		No One Can Do Everything
March 17, 2009		Apples or Cookies? The Importance of Listening to Your Body
March 16, 2009		Yes, It Is Cancer: The Importance of Persistence
March 13, 2009		Disability Awareness and Tolerance
March 12, 2009		Can We Build Relationships Outside the World of Disability?
March 11, 2009		To Be Effective, Caregivers Must Build and Protect A Relationship of Trust
March 10, 2009		Appreciating the Amazing Siblings of Disabled Children
March 09, 2009		Pride in the Accomplishments of My Disabled Daughter
March 06, 2009		Go Ahead – Get a Massage: The Importance of Taking Time for You
March 04, 2009		About the Renal Tumor Program at my hospital
March 03, 2009		Every Signature Makes a Difference
March 02, 2009		Slumdog Reality - Only Half the Story

Parent Picks

March 19, 2009		How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office
March 12, 2009		Rocky Mountain Organic Meats
March 09, 2009		Plantronics Digital Wireless Office Headset
March 06, 2009		ProBar High Performance Whole Food Nutrition Bars
March 05, 2009		Anna Getty’s Pre & Post Natal Yoga Workout (2008)
March 02, 2009		Eye-Fi Explore Wireless

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