Baby Immunization - Measles, Pertussis, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid

Below are a few more common types of baby immunization:

MEASLES

Baby should receive her measles vaccine at 12 months or as soon thereafter as possible. Active immunization against measles with live attenuated measles virus vaccine should be given routinely to all children who have never had, measles.
 

PERTUSSIS

Infants under 2 years of age who have not been immunized and have been exposed to pertussis (whooping cough) should receive an injection of pertussis immune gamma globulin. This is also given to infants who contract whooping cough and have not been immunized. This is ex pensive but it may save your baby's life, so it is well worth the expense.

Whooping cough is extremely serious in small infants. Although immunization against it may not give complete protection as do immunizations against tetanus and diphtheria, it does offer very valuable protection.

After the 4-year booster, it's unnecessary to continue with the whooping cough immunizations. But if there's exposure to whooping cough at any time during the next two years, a booster should be given. When children who have been immunized contract whooping cough, it's difficult to recognize because they usually don't whoop. Your doctor, however, can make a fairly definite diagnosis.

TETANUS

All children and adults should be immunized against tetanus with tetanus toxoid. If your child sustains a injury in which the skin is lacerated, punctured, or torn, or is bitten by a dog or cat, some type of protection against. tetanus or lockjaw is definitely needed.
In situations where a child has not been previously immunized or where information is lacking about previous tetanus immunizations, a tetanus antitoxin injection is given.", The antitoxin should be made from human immune globulin rather than from horse serum. The latter is frequently associated with severe allergic reactions. Immunization with tetanus antitoxin is only temporary and must be followed by five immunization with tetanus toxoid.

Keep an accurate record of all tetanus immunizations. In the event that your child is injured, you will be able to tell your physician the date of your child's last booster. If it has been within 12 months, probably another booster is unnecessary.

If it has been more than a year since your child has received a tetanus booster, a booster will adequately protect the child.
 

DIPHTHERIA

If your child has received his D.P.T. immunizations, a Schick test to determine susceptibility to diphtheria is unnecessary.
 

TYPHOID

Routine immunization against typhoid is not advisable. However, if you should be traveling outside the United States to a country where typhoid is endemic or should there be an outbreak of typhoid in your community, immunization for typhoid is recommended.
 

PROTECTING THE BABY

Although the 4- to 5-month-old baby is no longer a tiny infant, he's still susceptible to infectious  diseases and is therefore highly dependent on you for protection. Don't expose him unnecessarily around other children or adults who may be ill. This protection is also part of being a mother.

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