According to statistics, every second child under the age of two years is faced with otitis media, and in 80% of cases the cause is pneumococcus and hemophilic bacillus. But you can avoid otitis, as well as meningitis and pneumonia (they are also caused by these bacteria) by vaccination.
Why get vaccinated against otitis media, pneumonia and meningitis?
About 90 different types of pneumococcal bacteria circulate in the world, but the most dangerous are around 15. It is they that become the cause of diseases such as otitis media, meningitis and pneumonia. The danger lies also in the fact that they are transmitted by airborne droplets.
The most dangerous disease is meningitis - inflammation of the meninges. For young children, this disease can lead to death, but survivors (in about 30% of cases) have serious neurological complications of varying severity. These may be impaired hearing or motor functions and mental development.
Pneumonia (pneumonia) can also lead to serious complications. For example, pulmonary edema, which causes respiratory dysfunction. In addition, the child may suffer from severe pain.
Otitis is considered the most common infectious disease. Antibacterial agents are almost always prescribed for its treatment. Lack of timely treatment can lead to partial or complete hearing loss, as well as the spread of infection further, which can lead to the development of meningitis.
Vaccination efficacy
The vaccine for otitis media and other inflammatory diseases contains antigens from the two main pathogens of these diseases, namely pneumococcus and hemophilic bacillus. Having vaccinated, you can warn:
- pneumococcal meningitis (90% effective);
- pneumonia (25%);
- otitis media (30%).
Vaccine safety
A large number of different studies of the vaccine against otitis media have been conducted, so we can talk about its safety. It is approved for use by leading experts in many countries.
The World Health Organization considers it necessary to include vaccinations against otitis media among children, but in the absence of contraindications, as part of the national immunization program.
The vaccine against pneumococcal infection and atypical hemophilic bacillus is used in 90 countries of the world, and in 40 of them (for example, Finland and Sweden) it is included in the vaccination calendar. In Russia, this vaccine is recommended and is done at the request of the parents, but it must be understood that it is practically not purchased by the state, therefore the entire financial burden of providing for the burden falls on the shoulders of the parents (except in cases of chronic severe illness and immunodeficiency).
Who is vaccinated for?
First of all, the vaccine for otitis media is indicated for young children aged 6 months to 5 years and elderly people over 55 years old. It is in these age periods that the course of the disease is the most severe, and there is also a high risk of complications. Some parents consider it inappropriate to vaccinate those children who do not attend kindergartens, because they are sure that there is no risk of illness. But this is fundamentally wrong, because other family members can bring infection, and contact with a sick child can be on the street (we must not forget that these bacteria are transmitted by airborne droplets).
In addition, the indications are:
- chronic diseases of the bronchopulmonary, cardiovascular, endocrine system;
- immunodeficiency states.
If there are absolute indications, the vaccine against pneumonia, otitis media, and meningitis is free, so you can always consult your doctor and ask about this possibility.
Contraindications
The benefits of vaccination against otitis media are a minimum number of contraindications. Vaccination is not recommended in the following cases:
- the presence of an acute form of the disease or an exacerbation of a chronic disease (first of all, this applies to respiratory, intestinal infections);
- severe reactions to the previous administration of the vaccine, allergy to its individual components, which happens quite rarely.
It is also recommended to draw up an individual revaccination schedule in the presence of severe chronic diseases.
Where and how can a child be vaccinated?
Vaccination against otitis media, meningitis and pneumonia is done at the request of the parents. First you need to get a consultation with a family doctor. This is best done as early as possible.
It is possible to combine vaccination against otitis with vaccination against pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus.
Hemophilus influenzae vaccination schedule is as follows:
- 3 months;
- 4 months;
- 5 months;
- 18 months.
The pneumococcal vaccination schedule may vary depending on the age of the child:
- if the first vaccine for otitis media is given to children from one to two years, then two doses of the vaccine will be required with the necessary interval:
- if vaccination started already after the age of two to five, then for the formation of immunity a single injection of the vaccine is sufficient.
Before vaccination, the child must be examined by a doctor, and parents must sign a consent to the vaccine.
Rules for the preparation and conduct of vaccination
A healthy child does not need any special training. The main rule that must be followed with any vaccination is that you can’t introduce new products into the diet (a week before vaccination and within a week after it). The rule must be observed so that when a rash appears on the skin, you can immediately determine the cause.
Testing is not required. The examination can be prescribed by a doctor in rare cases, for example, if the child had not previously given urine and blood for tests, since in such cases there may be a latent infection that does not give external signs.
Before vaccination, the drug is shaken until a homogeneous suspension is obtained. After this, it is necessary to externally examine the availability of the vaccine, in particular, the presence of foreign particles. If they are found, the drug can not be used.
The vaccine is administered intramuscularly in the anterolateral thigh or deltoid muscle of the shoulder.
Complications
To prevent otitis media, pneumonia and meningitis, the most modern vaccines are used. In 5% of cases, it can:
- rise in temperature;
- a local reaction will appear in the form of unpleasant sensations accompanied by pain;
- redness or swelling at the injection site, slight itching.
These reactions are quite normal, since in this way the body's immunity reacts to the drug administered. In this case, special treatment is not required, the symptoms disappear within three days.
When the temperature rises to 38 ° C, as well as general weakness, a doctor can give antipyretics to the child as prescribed by the doctor. It is necessary to respond to swelling at the injection site with a diameter of more than 8 cm.
There are no restrictions on behavior after vaccination. The child can lead his usual lifestyle, you can walk, play with him, etc. But on the first day after vaccination, any water procedures and the introduction of new products into the diet are not recommended.
What vaccines are used?
For vaccination against otitis media, meningitis and pneumonia, two vaccines are used:
- From the hemophilic bacillus, the French drug Act-Hib and the Belgian Hiberix are effective. They are interchangeable and highly effective, which is very important for vaccination against otitis media for children (what is the vaccine called in a particular clinic? Can be obtained from a doctor) from the age of two months. In addition, the antigen is also found in combination preparations such as Pentaxim or Infanrix Hexa. The latter are not purchased by state clinics, but their parents can purchase them in commercial institutions.
- There are two generations of vaccine against pneumococcal infection - polysaccharide (“Pneumo 23”) and conjugated. The former are not used for children under 2 years of age, have a short duration of action, therefore, revaccination is required every 3 to 5 years, and there is also no proven effective effect against pneumococci in the nasopharynx. Conjugated are suitable for children from two months of age. Their action differs from the previous ones - they form special memory cells, which throughout life will activate immunity if pneumococcus enters the body. This group includes vaccination against otitis media “Prevenar 13” and “Sinflorix”.
Diseases are always easier to prevent than to treat them later, especially if there is a high risk of complications. This also applies to diseases such as otitis media, meningitis, pneumonia. And timely vaccination avoids unpleasant consequences.