Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio Short Course (dTaP/IPV and Tdap)

Description

This is part of the ‘Health Academy Short Course’ series and provides clinicians with specific information related to the dTaP/IPV and Tdap vaccines:

• Boostrix-IPV
• Repevax
• ADACEL

This course is suitable for all Registered Healthcare Professionals, including Nurses, Pharmacists and GPs that administer this vaccine in practice.

This ‘Short Course’ will take approximately 1 hour to complete.

The course will cover key details of the vaccines and the diseases that it protects against.

Boostrix-IPV & Repevax are vaccines used as a booster dose in children from 3 years onwards,
to prevent four diseases: diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis (whooping cough) and
poliomyelitis (polio). ADACEL is a vaccine used as part of the prenatal pertussis programme.

The vaccine works by causing the body to produce its own protection
(antibodies) against these diseases.

• Diphtheria: Diphtheria mainly affects the airways and sometimes the skin. Generally the
  airways become inflamed (swollen) causing severe breathing difficulties and sometimes
  suffocation. The bacteria also release a toxin (poison), which can cause nerve damage, heart
  problems, and even death.

• Tetanus (Lockjaw): Tetanus bacteria enter the body through cuts, scratches or wounds in the
  skin. Wounds that are especially prone to infection are burns, fractures, deep wounds or wounds
  contaminated with soil, dust, horse manure/dung or wood splinters. The bacteria release a toxin
  (poison), which can cause muscle stiffness, painful muscle spasms, fits and even death. The
  muscle spasms can be strong enough to cause bone fractures of the spine.

• Pertussis (Whooping cough): Pertussis is a highly infectious illness. The disease affects the
  airways causing severe spells of coughing that may interfere with normal breathing. The
  coughing is often accompanied by a “whooping” sound, hence the common name “whooping
  cough”. The cough may last for 1-2 months or longer. Pertussis can also cause ear infections,
  bronchitis which may last a long time, pneumonia, fits, brain damage and even death.

• Poliomyelitis (Polio): Poliomyelitis, sometimes called simply “polio” is a viral infection that
  can have variable effects. Often it causes only a mild illness but in some people it causes
  permanent damage or even death. In its severest form, polio infection causes paralysis of the
  muscles (muscles cannot move), including those muscles needed for breathing and walking. The
  limbs affected by the disease may be painfully deformed.