What is Dipetheria and what causes it?
The infection is more common in Africa, South Asia and the former Soviet Union, where vaccinations aren’t widely available.
Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that affects the nose, throat and sometimes skin. It’s highly contagious and is usually contracted through close contact with someone who has the condition or is carrying it. It can be spread by coughing, sneezing or sharing belongings with someone who has the infection, such as bedding or clothing.
Diptheria signs and symptoms:
Typical symptoms of diphtheria are a high fever, sore throat, difficulties breathing and a grey or white membrane in the patient’s throat. Patients diagnosed with diphtheria need to be isolated while undergoing antibiotic treatment.
Tetanus
What is tetanus and what causes it?
Tetanus is a rare but toxic disease caused by bacterial spores that are commonly found in soil, as well as animal manure. If these spores (also called clostridium tetani) enter the blood stream they multiply rapidly, releasing a neurotoxin that attacks the nervous system, causing painful and serious symptoms. The consequences can be fatal, especially for newborn babies.
Tetanus can’t be passed from human to human, but it can enter the body through:
- Cuts, puncture wounds and scratches
- Burns
- Insect bites
- Piercings, tattoos and injections
- Eye injuries
- The umbilical cord during a non-sterile delviery
Tetanus signs and symptoms:
The most typical symptom of tetanus is the stiffness of your jaw muscles, also referred to as lockjaw. Tetanus patients tend to develop cramps and muscle spasms over 1 – 4 days, which can have an impact on their ability to breathe and swallow. The spasms may be accompanied by fever, excessive sweating and an unusually rapid heartbeat. If left untreated, there is a high risk of sudden cardiac death, pulmonary embolism, aspiration pneumonia and kidney failure.
What is Polio and what causes it?
Thanks to a preventative vaccination, polio is very rare these days – but it used to be common in the UK and worldwide and it could be very serious. Polio is a viral infection that spreads from person to person as a result of coming into contact with the faeces of someone with the infection, or the droplets when they cough or sneeze. It can also be passed on via contact with contaminated food or water.
Polio has very few symptoms, meaning most people carrying the infection don’t know they have it. For up to one in 100 people, polio causes temporary or permanent paralysis, which can be life-threatening.
While there hasn’t been a case of polio caught in the UK since the 1990s, the infection can still be found in some parts of the world. As there’s no cure, it’s important to make sure that you and your children are fully vaccinated against it, particularly if travelling to high risk areas. These include Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan, with a potential risk of infection in other parts of Africa and some Middle Eastern countries.
Polio signs and symptoms:
Most people infected with polio won’t have any symptoms and will fight off the infection without even realising they were infected. However, sometimes people experience flu-like symptoms three to 21 days after they’ve been infected, with symptoms such as:
- High temperature of 38°C or more
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
Symptoms usually pass within a week, but in more serious cases polio can attack the nerves in the spine and brain causing paralysis. This isn’t normally permanent, but some people may be left with ongoing problems.
How to minimise risk of catching DTP?
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection. Travellers should ensure they are up to date with their routine vaccines according to the NHS vaccination schedule. In addition to vaccination travellers should ensure good personal hygiene and follow advice on prevention of food and water-borne diseases. It is important to be aware of the risk of accidents while travelling. Travellers should thoroughly clean all wounds and seek appropriate medical attention.
Vaccination Information:
If you have had the vaccination before then you will need one dose, if you have not then you will require three doses. The vaccine protects you for 10 years. You will need a booster to remain protected after 10 years.
