Once our childhood vaccination program is complete, we still need to receive some important additional vaccinations into adulthood including the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTap) vaccine. The vaccine protects against the following diseases:
Diphtheria: an infectious bacterial disease that usually presents symptoms within 2–5 days of infection. This disease seriously affects the throat and nasal passage. Common symptoms are swollen lymph nodes, high fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, exhaustion, breathlessness and tiredness. It is easily contracted via contact with bodily fluids of infected patients.
Tetanus: a bacterial disease that severely affects the central nervous system. In cases where patients do not receive adequate or timely medical attention, tetanus can cause fatal complications, with severe lung infections being particularly dangerous.
Pertussis: an infectious bacterial respiratory disease that presents symptoms similar to influenza during its initial stages. Next, a severe cough develops, leaving the patient feeling tired and exhausted, while varicose veins may occur in the neck, resulting in vision issues. For those who have not been vaccinated or did not complete a course of DTaP vaccinations, complications caused by this disease can be fatal.