Influenza (flu) Influenza is a serious disease caused by a virus. Influenza can make you feel miserable! Fever, cough, shaking chills, body aches, and extreme weakness are common symptoms. You can catch influenza from people who cough, sneeze, or even just talk around you. It is very contagious. Tragically, every year infants, children, teens, and...
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) is a serious disease caused by bacteria. Hib usually infects children younger than 5 years old. Hib is spread person-to-person through the air. Your child can get Hib disease from being around children or adults who have Hib bacteria in their nose or throat. These people...
Shingles (zoster) Shingles is a painful disease caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. It is also called zoster. Shingles usually includes a painful rash with blisters that can occur anywhere on your body, even the face and eyes. The main symptom of shingles is severe pain. Some people have compared it with the...
Yellow fever Yellow fever is caused by a virus that is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. The word “yellow” in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients. Yellow fever is found in tropical areas of Africa and South America. There is no cure for yellow fever. Fortunately, the majority...
Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease caused by a virus. You can get infected with hepatitis B if you have contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids. This can happen during sex, or just by sharing personal items like a toothbrush or razor. Babies can get infected from their...
Hepatitis A Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by a virus. The virus is found in the feces (poop) of infected people. The hepatitis A virus is spread when invisible particles of feces (poop) get into your mouth. You can get hepatitis A by eating contaminated food or water, during sex, or just...
Japanese Encephalitis Japanese encephalitis is a disease caused by a virus. The virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Japanese encephalitis is the most common vaccine-preventable cause of encephalitis in Asia. Most infections are mild (e.g., fever and headache) or without apparent symptoms. However, about 1 in 200 infections results in severe...
Diphtheria (DTaP, Tdap, Td) Diphtheria is a serious disease caused by bacteria. The actual disease is caused when the bacteria release a toxin, or poison, into a person’s body. Diphtheria bacteria live in the mouth, throat, and nose of an infected person and can be passed to others by coughing or sneezing. Occasionally, transmission occurs...
