5-in-1 Vaccine: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B /
6-in-1 Vaccine: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B, Hepatitis B

ABOUT THE DISEASES AND BACTERIA / VIRUS

Diphtheria:

Diphtheriae bacteria is mainly spread by droplets. Wound, contaminated discharges or objects can be a mean of transmission as well. It causes respiratory disease and sometime skin problems, depending on severity and way of infection. Moreover, life-threatening complications can happen, including myocarditis, paralysis or kidney failure. Children aged under 5 are more prone to this infection. Signs and symptoms usually appear in 2-5 days. The bacteria will generate a thick and grey coating at throat and tonsils. Other general symptoms include chills, swollen glands at neck, heavy cough, sore throat, drooling, breathing difficulty and fever.

Tetanus:

Tetanus is caused by clostridium tetani bacteria. Infection of this type of bacteria usually associates with animal bites, burns, instant or chronic wound contamination. The bacteria will produce toxins that attack nervous system. Nerve impulse for muscle contraction regulation will be blocked and that leads to painful muscle contractions or muscle spasms. Jaws and neck are usually affected. Severe respiratory tract spasms will cause breathing difficulty and about 10-20% of infected cases can be resulted in death(1). Other symptoms like headache, fever, sweating, fast heart rate and high blood pressure may also present.

Pertussis:

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis bacterium via droplets transmission. Incubation period is generally 5-10 days, but it can be up to 2-3 weeks. Cold-like symptoms – runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and mild cough – usually happen at early stage. The disease will progress with toxins from bacteria and gradually turns into uncontrollable and violent cough. Heavy symptoms can last for about 10 weeks, thus it is also named as “100-day cough” in Chinese. However, in severe cases, apnea, pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy and coma may be resulted. Infants less than 1 year old are more risky, while infected teenagers and adults will have milder symptoms.

Poliomyelitis:

Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus and young children are at higher risk. Virus is spread via oral-faecal route and also by oral and nasal secretions. Symptoms of disease include fever, headache, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. Yet, about 70% of infected children are asymptomatic(2). However, the virus can enter the central nervous system and leads to muscle pain and stiffness of neck, back and legs. Paralytic poliomyelitis with muscle weakness and flaccid paralysis happens in less than 1% of infected children(2) and may bring about permanent disability. Fatal complications like meningitis may also be resulted.

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B:

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) is bacteria that infects mainly children aged under 5. People can carry this bacteria in noses and throats without getting sick. However, it can spread via droplets and cause invasive infection. It attacks brain membrane and results in meningitis. Besides, it can also lead to epiglottitis, pneumonia, arthritis and bacteremia. Signs and symptoms depend on the affected body parts. For severe cases, death can be resulted.

Hepatitis B:

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause acute or chronic liver diseases. It is transmitted via blood or deep body fluids. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever and jaundice. Not every infected person will present with those symptoms, some people will become chronic HBV carriers if timely treatments are unavailable to clear the virus by the time of infection – approximately 5-10% of adults and 95% of perinatally-infected infants, according to Hong Kong Department of Health. Its incubation period can be up to months for acute infection. For chronic carriers, severe liver diseases like cirrhosis or cancer can be developed.

ABOUT THE VACCINATION

Good personal and environmental hygiene, good ventilation, proper disposal of oral and respiratory secretions and faecal waste, proper wound management and vaccination are essential to prevent above bacterial and viral infections.

There are 5-in-1 and 6-in-1 vaccines which can protect against these diseases:

  • 5-in-1 vaccine: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, haemophilus influenzae type B
  • 6-in-1 vaccine: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B

Side effects are usually mild, including pain, redness and swelling of the injection site, itchiness, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and low-grade fever. For severe discomfort, please seek for medical consultation as soon as possible.

For further enquiries or bookings for vaccination, please contact us (+852) 2779 8388.
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