Diphtheria tetanus and pertussis (dTpa) vaccine

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that spreads easily and can cause breathing problems, skin sores, or inflammation of the heart muscle or nerves. Tetanus is a dangerous disease caused by a bacterium. It that affects the nerves and can cause painful muscle spasms, lockjaw, and other complications like pneumonia or broken bones (from the muscle spasms). Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that causes severe coughing and trouble breathing. In babies, it can be life threatening. In older children and adults, the cough can last for months.