Curtin University of Technology
Last modified 5/16/08 12:19 PM
Curtin University of Technology CRICOS Provider Code 00301J
The Sydney Campus of Curtin University of Technology CRICOS Provider Code 02637B
An acute illness, diphtheria is caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Toxins (poisonous substances) produced by the bacteria affect the respiratory tract (lung and windpipe), nervous system, adrenal gland and heart muscle cells.
Spread by droplets or direct contact with wounds and materials soiled by infected persons, diphtheria takes two to five days after infection for symptoms to show.
The disease mainly affects the respiratory tract but skin can also become infected. The bacteria form a 'membrane' of dead white blood cells in the upper respiratory tract, causing breathing difficulties. The diphtheria toxin can cause nerve and heart damage.
Polio is caused by a virus, and symptoms of the disease can take between three and 21 days after infection to show. It is spread between people through contact with infected faeces and throat secretions.
Poliovirus infection occurs in the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and gut). In 90 per cent of cases, the illness has no symptoms.
Where symptoms do occur they include:
Polio can cause meningitis (brain infection) and paralysis.
Caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani, tetanus takes about one to 21 days after infection for symptoms to show. The bacteria are spread from the environment to open wounds where they can enter the blood stream.
Toxins (poisonous substances) produced by the bacteria affect the nervous system, causing symptoms such as:
Doses of the vaccine are given at two, four, and six months of age. Boosters are given at four years and twelve years of age. The booster is recommended every 10 years, throughout life. A person who gets a deep or contaminated wound more than five years after the last tetanus vaccination may be advised to have a tetanus booster.
Caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, whooping cough is highly infectious and most serious in babies. Pertussis is spread through droplets in the air and it can develop from upper respiratory tract (windpipe) infections into pertussis pneumonia (lung infection).
Symptoms include coughing and 'whooping', which can continue for a few months.
Complications of the disease include hypoxic encephalopathy (lack of oxygen to the brain) leading to brain damage and possibly death.
People in high risk occupations, such as health care workers, should consider receiving a booster against pertussis.
A booster vaccination containing pertussis confers permanent immunity against these diseases.
Complete the following form as a record of your screening and vaccination status and send to your school office. This form is in Adobe PDF format.
