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Baby Infections

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that causes a thick membrane to form in the nose, throat, or airway. The membrane is attached to underlying tissues, so that attempting to remove it causes bleeding. Diphtheria bacteria within the membrane produce a toxin that can damage liver, kidney, and nerve tissue. Paralysis and death may result. Because of widespread vaccinations, fewer than cases occur in the U.S. each year.

Pertussis (whooping cough) causes severe coughing, often to the point of choking; it can fast for months. it is particularly rough on infants and small children and can- to pneumonia, seizures, and death. This disease is contagious and much more common than diphtheria. About four thousand cases are reported each yea; half -:ch involve children less than a year old.

Tetanus results from a toxin produced by bacteria that,-- a- the body through contaminated wounds. The toxin causes painful, spasmodic contractions of muscles (which s rise to the colloquial term lockjaw for this disease) can lead to death.

Polio is a viral infection that damages the central nervous:..em; it can cause mild or serious paralysis and results inin 5 to 10 percent of the cases.

Hemophilus B is a type of bacteria that can cause, among other things, pneumonia and meningitis (an infection ofthe membranes that enclose the brain and spinal cord). Since the introduction of hemophilus B vaccines during thepast decade, the number of cases of meningitis in youngchildren caused by this bacteria has fallen dramatically.

Hepatitis 3 is an infection of the liver caused by a virusthat is most commonly transmitted in three ways. from aninfected mother to her infant (later in life) through sexualcontact with an infected person, or by exposure to infectedblood. However, a large number of cases occur without ahistory of any of these events, which is one reason healthofficials recommend universal vaccination against this virus.

Fortunately, most people infected with hepatitis Brecover without any long-term effects. In a small percent-age of cases, however, the immediate illness can be severe enough to cause death. In others, prolonged active infec-tion with the virus occurs, a process that can lead eventually to cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. While hepatitis B isnot a common childhood disease, children are at a higher risk for developing long-term complications if they shouldbecome infected. immunization of all children has been recommended as the most effective means to reduce thetotal number of cases of this disease over the next several years.

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