Acute respiratory infections preventable by vaccine - Diphtheria, chickenpox, mumps, rubella, whooping cough

Last update: 2023-07-21

Key facts

Coughing, sneezing or close personal contact (infected droplets in the air breathed in by
another person)
Direct contact (for example, kissing) by infected saliva or nose mucous

All the illnesses can start with fever, runny nose, tiredness, headache, feeling unwell (children
may not want to eat much).
All the diseases can spread quickly, especially in unvaccinated populations.

Diphtheria, chickenpox, mumps, rubella, whooping cough
Diphtheria: Sore throat and swollen neck glands. A membrane of dead tissue builds up in the throat and over the tonsils, making breathing and swallowing difficult.
Chickenpox: Itchy small blisters (rash) usually start on chest, back or face and spread all over the body.
Mumps: Swelling of the salivary glands (on one or both sides). In severe cases, meningitis, deafness, inflamed pancreas (near stomach).
Rubella: In children: a rash, swollen glands in neck and behind ears, mild eye inflammation (pink-eye or conjunctivitis). In adults: painful joints or arthritis.
Whooping cough: Cough (can be worse at night) with a high “whoop” sound or gasp when breathing in. Babies less than one year old may not cough but can have difficulty breathing.

Routine vaccination of children
Preventive vaccination campaign to improve coverage in displaced populations and refugee
camps
Rapid identification of sick people before they spread the disease to others
Improve the nutritional situation, especially of children
Reduce overcrowding in shelters
Improve ventilation in shelters
Coughing etiquette (cough into sleeve, handkerchief or tissue, NOT the hand)
Social mobilization and behaviour change communication
Handwashing with soap

Children who are not vaccinated, especially those who are poorly nourished
Pregnant women (are very likely to pass rubella to an unborn baby, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or severe birth defects)
People who are malnourished or have compromised immune systems (for example, from HIV infection)
Displaced populations and those who live in crowded, cramped conditions

What can you do to prevent and control an epidemic?

Rapidly detect and refer cases to health facilities
Support mass vaccination campaigns
Isolate sick people (separate them from healthy people)
Promote coughing etiquette (cough into sleeve, handkerchief or tissue, NOT the hand)
Promote handwashing with soap
Check nutritional status of children under five years old and promote nutritional support
to those who are malnourished or sick
Promote exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of life
Increase social mobilization and behaviour change communication
Reduce overcrowding in shelters
Improve ventilation in shelters

Make a map of the community and mark the information you gather on the map. Record other details.

When did people start to fall sick?
How many people have fallen sick with mumps or rubella or chickenpox or whooping cough? Where?
How many people have died and where?
How many people live in the affected community or area?
How many children under five live in the area?
Who and where are the vulnerable people?
Are children under five most affected? Or are other age groups, occupations, etc., more affected?
Are children in the affected community generally well nourished?
Do people always have enough food?
How common is breastfeeding?
Are children in the affected community vaccinated or not?
Is a vaccination campaign planned?
Do strong cultural beliefs or perceptions about vaccination prevent children from being vaccinated?
Where are the local health facilities and services? (Include traditional and community carers.)
What are the community’s habits, practices and beliefs about caring for and feeding sick people? When babies and infants are sick, do women continue to breastfeed them?
Is a social mobilization or health promotion programme in place?
Which sources of information do people use most?
Are rumours or is misinformation about the disease spreading in the community?

25. Mass vaccination campaigns 24. Routine vaccinations 01. Community-based surveillance 02. Community mapping 03. Communicating with the community 04. Community referral to health facilities 05. Volunteer protection and safety 12. Managing fever 13. Breastfeeding 14. Infant and young child feeding in emergencies 15. Measuring acute malnutrition in emergencies 17. Measuring mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) 19. Psychosocial support 20. Isolating sick people 23. Chemoprophylaxis 26. Respiratory hygiene and coughing etiquette 27. Shelter and ventilation 28. Physical distancing 29. Hygiene promotion 34. Handwashing with soap 43. Social mobilization and behaviour change