Vaccines for children: Diseases that vaccines prevent
List of 15 serious diseases that vaccines prevent, their symptoms and possible complications.
HPV (human papillomavirus)
Symptoms
Small warts on or in the:
- anus
- thighs
- rectum
- urethra
- genitals
Many people with HPV infection don’t experience any signs or symptoms.
Possible complications of HPV infection
Cancer of the:
- cervix
- throat
- genitals
- oral cavity
Diphtheria
Symptoms
- high fever
- severe sore throat
Possible complications
- breathing and heart problems
- paralysis
- death
Whooping cough (pertussis)
Symptoms
- violent coughing fits that may last for months
- difficulty with:
- eating
- drinking
- breathing
Possible complications
- pneumonia
- convulsions
- brain damage
- death
Tetanus
Symptoms
- jaw spasms
- vocal cord spasms
- full-body muscle spasms
Possible complications
- broken bones
- death
Polio
Symptoms
- fever
- general discomfort
- nausea and vomiting
Possible complications
- breathing problems
- paralysis of arms and legs
- death
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections
Symptoms
- fever
- headache
- mental confusion
- excessive tiredness
- severe swelling of the throat
Possible complications
- deafness
- developmental delays
- pneumonia
- meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord)
- death
Mumps
Symptoms
- fever
- headache
- swollen glands near jawbone
Possible complications
- meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord)
- deafness
- infertility
Rubella
Symptoms
- rash
- swollen glands
Possible complications
- arthritis
- miscarriage
- malformations in an infant whose mother contracted rubella during pregnancy
Chickenpox (varicella)
Symptoms
- fever
- itching
- many small blisters that develop scabs
Possible complications
- pneumonia
- encephalitis (brain infection)
- malformations in an infant whose mother contracted chickenpox during pregnancy
- death
Meningococcal infection
Symptoms
- stiff neck
- high fever
- severe headache
- nausea and vomiting
- red marks or tiny pin-size bruises on the skin
Possible complications
- brain damage
- amputation of hands or feet
- meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord)
- blood infection
- death
Pneumococcal infection
Symptoms
- fever
- cough
- chest pain
- mental confusion
- ear and/or sinus infection
Possible complications
- deafness
- brain damage
- pneumonia
- meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord)
- blood infection
- death
Hepatitis B
Symptoms
- fever
- diarrhea
- jaundice
- vomiting
- abdominal pain
Possible complications
- cirrhosis of the liver
- liver cancer
- death
Influenza
Symptoms
- fever
- cough
- fatigue
- headache
- muscle pain
Possible complications
- ear and/or sinus infection
- bronchitis (inflammation of the airways)
- pneumonia
- death
Rotavirus
Symptoms
- vomiting
- high fever
- severe, watery diarrhea
Possible complications
- severe dehydration
- death
Measles
Symptoms
- rash
- fever
- cough
- pink eye
Possible complications
- pneumonia
- convulsions
- brain damage
- death
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