- Knowledgebase: The One Minute Pediatrician
- These are short topics that Dr. Dennis wrote for use on the radio. Each topic reads in less than one minute!
- 12. Immunizations: DPT - Top
- DPT immunization is made up of Diptheria (a severe throat infection), Pertussis (whooping cough), and Tetanus (lock jaw). The recommended schedule for this immunization is 2, 4, 6, 18 months, and 4-5 years, followed by a booster in the teen years.
Diptheria and Tetanus vaccines have no major side effects and only some soreness at the shot site.
Pertussis vaccine however, in the past commonly caused fever, irritability and soreness for 1-2 days after the injection. There were cases of extreme irritibility and high pitched crying in rare cases.
However, the current Pertussis vaccine used is the Acellular Pertussis Vaccine (DaPT) which does not cause much fever or irritibility at all.
The current DaPT vaccine is very safe, and the three diseases- Diptheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus, are very real and dangerous, so please DO vaccinate your children. Any possible reaction to a vaccine should be reported to your doctor. - Updated: June 6, 2001
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