Quacking In with Information about DTaP!

 🐥 It does sound a little tricky! DTaP stands for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. It's one combined vaccine that covers all three, so it's a single shot instead of three separate ones.

🐥 Of course:

• Diphtheria can block airways with a thick coating in the throat and lead to heart or nerve problems.

• Tetanus causes painful muscle cramps and can make it hard to open the mouth or breathe.

• Pertussis (also called whooping cough) is a very strong, ongoing cough that can make it hard for babies to breathe, eat, or sleep.

 🐥 Tetanus and diphtheria are rare in the U.S. now, but cases are still being reported. Pertussis is still common, with thousands of cases every year, including outbreaks in some communities.

 🐥 Babies and young children are at the highest risk for serious illness. Pertussis is especially dangerous for infants under 12 months because it can cause trouble breathing, pneumonia, and seizures.

 🐥 Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person through coughs, sneezes, or saliva. Tetanus is different. The bacteria live in soil and dust, and they enter through broken skin like cuts or puncture wounds. Tetanus is not spread from person to person.

🐥 It's given more than once over early childhood rather than all at once. Your pediatrician will explain the timing that fits your child.

🐥 Every family is different. Your pediatrician can tell you what makes sense for your child, and what to watch for.