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The most important children's diseases that can be avoided through vaccination are:
Poliomyelitis
The polio virus causes severe muscular problems which can lead to muscle paralysis (the muscles stop working). Many polio sufferers used to end up in a wheelchair, or even die. Nowadays, extensive vaccination is responsible for preventing the few instances of this disease from spreading.
Diphtheria
A disease characterised by the formation of plaques in the throat which make it difficult to swallow and breathe. It often causes heart and nerve problems. About 10% of those affected die, 20% in the case of children or elderly people. In some parts of the world, like Eastern Europe, there are still cases of diphtheria owing to insufficient vaccination.
Whooping cough
A disease affecting the respiratory tract, characterised by causing so much coughing that it is difficult to eat, drink or even breathe. The frequent vomiting leads to weight loss. In children the disease can also lead to pneumonia and brain disorders. Without vaccination, this disease would be a lot more prevalent.
Tetanus
A disease caused by a bacterium that enters the body via cuts and wounds and attacks the nervous system. It causes a very high fever and very painful muscle spasms. It is often a serious disease. The mortality rate for tetanus can reach over 50%. It's a good idea to be vaccinated because the tetanus bacterium spreads easily in earth and dust.
Measles
This is a highly contagious disease. Its symptoms are: coughing, high fever, watery eyes, sneezing and a rash of small red spots all over the body. Between the 1950s and 60s, almost everyone had measles at some time or another. Over 20% were hospitalised, and 7% suffered complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea or ear infections. Less frequently, there were also a few cases of encephalitis and death. As measles is highly contagious, without vaccination it would spread very rapidly.
Meningitis
This disease causes severe inflammation of the meninges, that is, the membranes sheathing the brain and the nerves.
Meningitis used to affect a large number of children and could have important sequelae such as encephalitis, paralysis and neuronal disorders. An effective vaccine was not available until recently. Now, however, the vaccine gives a great deal of protection, which is why it is now included in the vaccination calendar.
Hepatitis
An infectious disease causing inflammation of the liver and lesions that increasingly impair its functioning. People with hepatitis B are at high risk of the infection becoming chronic and eventually causing cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. Vaccination is recommended and, at present, evidence suggests that the number of cases of this disease have diminished a great deal.
Rubella (German measles)
The rubella virus causes a rash of small red spots on the skin and palate. If a pregnant woman gets rubella during the first three months of her pregnancy, the baby may develop congenital rubella syndrome, involving heart lesions, cataracts, mental retardation and deafness. Now, however, thanks to extensive vaccination, there are hardly any cases of congenital rubella syndrome.
Parotitis(mumps)
In this disease the parotid gland, the largest salivary gland in the body, located near the jaw, becomes inflamed and swollen. Before vaccination, this disease frequently caused deafness in children. It wasn't usually a very serious disease but in some cases it could lead to nerve and brain problems, ending in paralysis. It also increased the possibility of miscarriage during the first three months of pregnancy. As it is a highly contagious disease, without vaccination it would very easily spread among those not vaccinated.
Another vaccine that is also used frequently for elderly people or people with respiratory problems, is the flu vaccine.
Other vaccines are necessary when you're travelling to countries affected by endemic diseases that are not prevalent in Europe.
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