Overview
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) are serious diseases. Pertussis shares similar symptoms with the common cold.1 Pertussis is highly communicable and is transmitted from person to person through contact with respiratory droplets generated by coughing or sneezing. Patients are most infectious during the first stage of illness (catarrhal period) and the first 2 weeks after cough onset.1,2 Tetanus is life-threatening, but it’s different from other vaccine-preventable diseases. It doesn’t spread from person to person. The bacteria are usually found in soil and enters the body through a cut or puncture in the skin. Tetanus is often called “lockjaw”, because one of the first symptoms is the restriction of the jaw muscles.1 Diphtheria can result in respiratory or skin infections. With respiratory diphtheria, a gray-colored pseudomembrane can form in the upper airway, possibly resulting in life-threatening airway blockage. Although rare in the US, exposure to diphtheria remains possible during travel to countries where the disease is prevalent.1,2
All persons are recommended to receive routine pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria vaccination. Tdap vaccination is recommended by the CDC for all persons 11 years of age and older who have not received a tdap vaccination previously. Vaccine type, product, number of doses and booster dose recommendations are based on age and pregnancy status according to the Prevention of pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria with vaccines in the United States: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).2
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PERTUSSIS
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Low-grade fever
- Cough that can progress from mild to more severe
- Fits of rapid coughing, followed by high-pitched “whoop”
- Vomiting and/or exhaustion
TETANUS
- Tightening of the jaw muscles
- Stiffness of the neck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Rigidity of abdominal muscles
- High temperature
- Sweating
- Elevated blood pressure
- Episodic rapid heart beat
- Spasms (3-4 weeks)
DIPHTERIA
- Malaise
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Hoarseness
- Barking cough
- Formation of a membrane
- Adolescents 11-18 years of age who have not been previously vaccinated with Tdap should receive a single dose of Tdap. One booster dose of either Td or Tdap should be administered every 10 years throughout life to ensure continued protection against tetanus and diphtheria
- All adults 19 years of age and older who have not received Tdap should receive a single dose. One booster dose of either Td or Tdap should be administered every 10 years throughout life to ensure continued protection against tetanus and diphtheria
- Pregnant women should get one dose of Tdap each pregnancy, preferred at 27 to 36 weeks of gestation
- Tdap is recommended over Td for wound management in patients 11 years of age and older who have not previously received Tdap
Please refer to the CDC Schedule for the complete Tdap recommendation.
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Facts about Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria
Pertussis is not only a childhood disease—nearly 1 in 4 reported cases of pertussis occurred in adults ≥20 years old in 2019.4 Tetanus is an acute, often fatal disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani, which usually enters the body through a wound.1 Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae and spreads from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing.5
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Many patients may not know that there are vaccines recommended for them to help protect against certain diseases. You can help educate patients about these vaccine-preventable diseases, and explain why it’s important for them to be up to date on their vaccinations.
References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hall E, Wodl AP, Hamborsky J, eds. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 14th ed. Public Health Foundation; 2021. Accessed February 1, 2022. 2. Liang JL, Tiwari T, Moro P, et al. Prevention of pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria with vaccines in the United States: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2018;67(2):1-44. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr6702a1 3.Havers FP, Moro PL, Hunter P, et al. Use of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid, and Acellular Pertussis Vaccines: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:77–83. 4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019 Final Pertussis Surveillance Report. May 2021. Accessed January 21, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/downloads/pertuss-surv-report-2019-508.pdf 5. About diphtheria: causes and spread to others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/about/causes-transmission.html 6. Postels-Multani S, Schmitt HJ, Wirsing von König CH, et al. Symptoms and complications of pertussis in adults. Infection. 1995;23(3):139-142. 7. About diphtheria. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/about/index.html