Tdap Research Paper

The DTaP and Tdap vaccines protect against three bacterial infections, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. The dangers associated with diphtheria come from the toxin released by the bacterium, Corynebacterium diphtheria. The toxin makes it difficult for children to breathe and swallow, while it also attacks the heart, kidneys, and nerves. In the 1920s, diphtheria was a common cause of death in children and adolescents. At its peak, about 150,000 cases of diphtheria occurred in the United States every year. The diphtheria vaccine since it was first used in the United States in the early 1940s, has virtually eliminated the disease. Now we see bacterium, Clostridium tetani. Unlike most vaccine-preventable diseases, tetanus is not a disease
The cough can be so violent that people with pertussis crack ribs, break blood vessels, or develop hernias. Pneumonia or seizures can also develop from pertussis. Young infants can also experience bouts of apnea. None of these vaccines have any major side effects except the pertussis vaccine. The diphtheria vaccine can cause mild side effects such as pain or soreness in the local area of the shot and occasionally a low-grade fever. The tetanus vaccine is also a rare cause of a severe allergic reaction. It is estimated that this allergic reaction could occur in about one of every 1 million children who receive the tetanus vaccine, and could include hives, difficulty breathing or a lower blood pressure. The allergic reaction can be treated with medications. Pertussis vaccine has some mild side effects such as pain and tenderness at the injection site occur in about one-third of children, most often after the fourth or fifth dose. More severe reactions occur in about one of every 10,000 children. Severe reactions can include fever of 105 degrees or higher, fever-associated seizures, inconsolable crying, or hypotonic-hypo responsive syndrome, a condition in which a child can become listless and lethargic with poor muscle