Childhood diseases can have very serious effects upon
your baby. That’s why your newborn baby needs all the
care and protection that you can give. You can start by
immunising your baby against dangerous childhood diseases.
When your baby is immunised against a disease, his body
will produce antibodies to fight off that disease. With some
immunisations, one dose is enough to last a lifetime; others
require additional booster doses according to a schedule.
Every Child Should Be
Immunised Early Against These Diseases
There are ten potentially dangerous childhood diseases
against which immunisations are available.
Childhood Diseases
Disease
Description
Diphtheria
Starts as a throat infection, but can cause
obstruction to breathing and death.
Hepatitis B
An infection of the liver that may have no
symptoms. It can lead to liver failure or liver cancer in
adulthood.
Measles
Starts with high fever and a rash. Lung infection,
deafness and brain damage can occur.
Mumps
An infection of the salivary glands. It can lead
to brain infection, deafness or sterility.
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Causes prolonged attacks of coughing and can
result in pneumonia (lung infection) or brain damage.
Pneumococcal infection
Causes lung infection, inflammation of the
membrane or lining that protects the brain, and ear
infection.
Poliomyelitis
Starts with mild fever but can result in paralysis
and deformed arms or legs.
Rubella (German measles)
Complications in children are rare. Women infected
during early pregnancy may give birth to deaf, blind or
mentally retarded babies.
Tetanus
Causes severe muscle contractions, including those
muscles that control swallowing and breathing. It often
leads to death.
Did You Know That:
Basic immunisation (except for hepatitis B and
pneumococcus) is provided free at Polyclinics. However,
optional immunisation for chickenpox, meningitis (Haemophilus
influenzae type b - Hib) and hepatitis A are available at a
fee. Please check with your family doctor or at any
Polyclinic.
Immunisation is only given when a child is found to be
fit.
When your child registers for primary school, the
School will check your child’s immunisation certificates
to see if he or she has completed all the recommended
immunisations.
Booster doses for various immunisations for
school-going children will be given at the School Health
Service.
