Diseases We Vax Against

Question 1

Diphtheria:

• Sx
• Complications

Answer 1

• Sx: coryzal, lymphadenopathy, furry grey coating on throat, SOB, swallowing issues
• Cx: suffocation, CCF, renal failure, nerve damage

Question 2

Pertussis:

• Sx + Sx in older kids
• Ix
• Mx
• Cx

Answer 2

• Sx: coryzal Sx, whopping cough. In older kids, cough can go for ages “100 day cough” and also vomiting, petechiae around eyes
• Ix: nasal swab/PCR, serology
• Mx: Abx - makes index case non-infective but DOESN’T change course of illness, clarithromycin/azithromycin
• Cx: pneumonia, hypoxic encephalopathy

Question 3

When is pertussis most dangerous and why?

Answer 3

Infant: can become cyanosed/apnoiec during whoop -> can get hypoxic encephalopathy -> permanent brain damage

Question 4

Hib: what kinds of infection can it cause?

Answer 4

meningitis, epiglotittis, pneumonia, croup, peri-orbital cellulitis

Question 5

How do you differentiate between peri-orbital and orbital cellulitis?

Answer 5

Eye movements (early stages pain, later stages diplopia), visual acuity (call ophthalmologist)

Question 6

Tetanus:

• what does it cause?
• why is it so important for each individual to be immunised?

Answer 6

• lock jaw, breathing/swallowing problems, convulsions, arrhythmias
• Herd immunity doesn’t protect because of ground source, enters through breaks in skin (i.e. not person to person)

Question 7

Polio:

• Route of spread
• What does it cause?

Answer 7

• Faecal-oral: enterovirus

- anterior horn cells affected, clinical features depends on level of infection: mild Sx -> life-threatening paralysis

Question 8

Mumps:

• Sx
• Cx

Answer 8

• Sx: constitutional, parotid swelling (usually bilat, tender)
• Many, inc infertility, encephalitis, meningitis, pancreatitis, myocarditis, miscarriage

Question 9

Measles:

• What are the 3+1 C’s of measles?
• What rash do you get with measles?
• Serious Cx

Answer 9

- 3 C's:
	• Cough
	• Conjunctivitis
	• Coryzal
	• (Koplick spots)
- Confluent maculo-papular rash
- Cx: 
	• Bacterial secondary infection e.g. otitis media, pneumonia
	• Encephalitis - can get SSPE years later

Question 10

Rubella: when is the infection an issue, and why?

Answer 10

In utero esp T1:

• Congenital cataracts
• Growth retarded
• Deafness
• ID
• Higher risk of congenital cardiac lesion

Question 11

Why is Hep B given at birth in Aus?

Answer 11

• Given at birth due to many unknown statuses of mothers (e.g. from SEA)

Question 12

What is the rash you get with meningococcus

Answer 12

Non-blanching, purpuric rash