Vaccinations have existed since the time of Catherine. Thanks to them, thousands of victims were avoided. Undoubtedly, there is always a risk of side effects after vaccination, but the task of each parent is to protect their child from serious diseases. Only a competent vaccination approach and awareness will help to avoid dire consequences. Next, consider what DTP vaccination is. Komarovsky - a well-known children's doctor, will help with his advice to prepare a child for vaccination and possible side effects.
Decrypt DTP
What do these letters mean?
- A - adsorbed vaccine.
- K - whooping cough.
- D - diphtheria.
- C - tetanus.
The vaccine consists of weakened bacteria - pathogens of the above diseases, sorbed on the basis of aluminum hydroxide and thiolate. There are also cell-free vaccines, more refined. They have particles of microorganisms that stimulate the body to produce the necessary antibodies.
Note that Dr. Komarovsky says: “DTP vaccination is the most difficult and can be difficult for a child to tolerate. Complicating its tolerance is the pertussis element contained in it. ”
One vaccine protects against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. These diseases can lead to a sad outcome, and how dangerous they are, we will consider further.
Dangerous diseases
DTP vaccine protects against pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus. What are these diseases dangerous?
Whooping cough is a disease caused by an acute infection. A very strong cough is observed, which can cause respiratory arrest, cramps. A complication is the development of pneumonia. The disease is very contagious and dangerous, especially for children under 2 years old.
Diphtheria is an infectious disease. It is easily spread by airborne droplets. Strong intoxication occurs, while a dense coating on the tonsils is formed. Laryngeal edema can occur, there is a big threat of disruption of the heart, kidneys and nervous system.
Tetanus is an acute and infectious disease. Damage to the nervous system occurs. It reduces muscles on the face, limbs, back. Difficulty swallowing, it is difficult to open the jaw. Danger of respiratory failure. In most cases, death. The infection is transmitted through damage to the skin and mucous membranes.
When and to whom do DTP
From the very birth of a child, a vaccination schedule is established. If you comply with all vaccination schedules, the effectiveness will be high, the child in this case is reliably protected. DTP vaccination, Komarovsky draws attention to this, should also be done in a timely manner. Since the baby is protected by the mother’s antibodies only in the first 6 weeks from birth.
The vaccine can be domestic or imported.
However, all DTP vaccines, despite the manufacturer, are administered in three stages. Since the immune system weakens after the first vaccination, re-vaccination is necessary. There is a rule when vaccinating DTP:
- The vaccine should be administered in three stages.
- Moreover, the interval between vaccinations should be at least 30-45 days.
If there are no contraindications for vaccination, the schedule looks like this:
- 1 vaccination - in 3 months.
- 2 vaccinations - in 4-5 months.
- 3 vaccinations - at 6 months.
In the future, the interval should be at least 30 days. According to the plan, DTP vaccination is carried out in:
- 18 months.
- 6-7 years old.
- 14 years.
Adults can be vaccinated once every 10 years. In this case, it is necessary to observe the interval between vaccinations, it should not be less than a month and a half.
Very often, one vaccine contains antibodies against several diseases. This does not burden the child’s body at all, as they are easily tolerated. So, for example, if DTP and polio are vaccinated, Komarovsky notes that they can be done at the same time, since the latter practically has no side effects.
The polio vaccine is oral, “live”. After it, it is recommended not to contact unvaccinated children for two weeks.
How long does the protection last
After the DTP vaccine is given (Komarovsky explains it this way), immunity begins to produce antibodies to measles, diphtheria and tetanus. So, it was found that after vaccination in a month, the level of antibodies in the body will be 0.1 IU / ml. How long the protection will last depends largely on the characteristics of the vaccine. As a rule, immune defense is designed for 5 years. Therefore, the interval of routine vaccinations is 5–6 years. In adulthood, it is enough to do DTP once every 10 years.
If the DTP vaccine is given, then the probability of getting diphtheria, tetanus or measles is very low. It is believed that a person in this case is protected from these viruses.
In order not to harm the body, you must remember that there are a number of contraindications.
Who should not do DTP
DTP is one of the vaccines that is difficult to tolerate in childhood. And if before that there were no reactions to vaccinations, then it can cause side effects. In order not to cause unwanted DTP vaccination, the consequences, Komarovsky advises paying attention to the reasons why vaccination should be canceled.
The reasons may be temporary in nature, these may include:
- Colds.
- Infectious diseases.
- Elevated body temperature.
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases.
In such cases, it is necessary to cure the child, and only two weeks after a full recovery can be done DTP.
DTP vaccination should not be done if there are the following diseases:
- Deviations in the functioning of the nervous system that progress.
- Previous vaccinations are very difficult to tolerate.
- The child had a history of seizures.
- Previous vaccinations caused febrile seizures.
- Immunodeficiency.
- Particular sensitivity to the components of the vaccine or their intolerance.
If your child has any disease, or you are afraid that it will cause unwanted DTP vaccination, it is necessary to consult a doctor. You may be prescribed a vaccine that does not contain pertussis toxoids, because they can cause adverse reactions.
Also, vaccination can be delayed if the child:
- Diathesis.
- Little weight.
- Premature baby.
- Encephalopathy
In these conditions, vaccination is possible, but preparation for vaccination with DTP, Komarovsky emphasizes this, should consist in stabilizing the state of health. It is best to use a cell-free vaccine with a high degree of purification for such children.
Possible conditions after vaccination
What are the possible consequences after DTP vaccination? Reviews Komarovsky leads various. And all side effects can be divided into lungs, moderate and severe.
As a rule, the response to the vaccine appears after 3 doses. Perhaps because it is from this moment that immune defense begins to form. The child should be observed, especially in the first hours after vaccination and over the next three days. If the baby gets sick on the fourth day after vaccination, then it can not be the cause of the disease.
The occurrence of adverse reactions after vaccination is a very common occurrence. Every third of them can appear. Mild reactions that occur within 2-3 days:
- Perhaps the temperature will increase after vaccination with DTP. Komarovsky recommends knocking it down at the very beginning, do not wait for an increase to 38 degrees. Shoot down only with "Paracetamol" or "Ibuprofen." Such a reaction may occur 2 to 3 hours after vaccination.
- Often, after an injection, the child's behavior changes. He becomes moody, whiny. This condition can last for several hours. Perhaps the baby is worried about the pain after the injection. A reverse reaction is also allowed. The child’s activity will decrease, even slight inhibition may appear. Loss of appetite, drowsiness is also possible.
- The place where the injection was made may turn red, a slight swelling may appear. This is also an acceptable reaction, but edema should not exceed 5 cm, and redness not more than 8 cm. The injection site can be painful, therefore it is necessary to protect it from unnecessary touch and movement.
- The appearance of vomiting is not excluded.
Moderate to severe adverse events
The manifestations of more serious side effects cannot be ruled out. They are much less common:
- Body temperature can rise to 39–40 degrees.
- The appearance of febrile seizures is possible.
- The injection site will significantly turn red, exceed 8 centimeters, and edema of more than 5 centimeters will appear.
- Diarrhea and vomiting will occur.
If such reactions to the vaccine have arisen, it is urgently necessary to show the child to the doctor.
In very rare cases, manifestations of more severe adverse reactions are possible:
- Anaphylactic shock.
- Quincke's edema.
- Urticaria, rash.
- Convulsions with normal body temperature.
DTP is a vaccination (Komarovsky notes this especially), which causes such side effects in one case per million.
Such a reaction may appear in the first 30 minutes after the injection. Therefore, the doctor recommends not to leave immediately after the vaccination, but to be near the medical facility during this time. Then you should show the child to the doctor again. All this is done in order to be able to provide the necessary assistance to the baby.
Your actions after vaccination
In order for the child to more easily tolerate the vaccine, it is necessary not only to prepare for it, but also to behave correctly after it. Namely, observe some rules:
- The child should not bathe in the bathroom and do not wet the injection site.
- Dr. Komarovsky recommends walking, but no need to walk in public.
- Spend these 3 days at home without visitors, especially if the baby is temperamental or naughty.
- The air in the room should be moist and fresh.
- You should not introduce a new product into the diet a week before and after vaccination. If the baby is breastfed, mom should not try new foods.
- Parents of children with allergies should be especially careful. Consult your doctor about which antihistamines should be given before and after vaccination.
How to behave when adverse reactions occur
The manifestation of mild adverse reactions is still possible. Since the DTP vaccine is considered the most severe for the body, especially if the child had previously had negative reactions to vaccinations. What to do in case of side effects after vaccination with DTP:
- Temperature. Komarovsky recommends her constantly monitor. Do not wait 38, you need to give an antipyretic as soon as it starts to rise.
- If there is swelling or redness at the injection site, you must show the child to the doctor. Perhaps this drug did not get into the muscle, but into the subcutaneous fat, because of this, edema and compaction may appear. In any case, a doctor’s consultation is necessary to alleviate the condition of the child and eliminate possible complications. If this is just a slight reddening, it will disappear within 7 days and nothing needs to be done.
In order to avoid side effects, you should seriously consider preparing your child for vaccination. About it further.
How to prepare your child for DTP vaccination
Komarovsky gives some simple and useful tips:
- Show the child to the pediatrician, who must examine and correctly assess his condition. In other words, confirm that the child is healthy.
- If your child is allergic, an antihistamine should be given 3 days before vaccination. Before this, you should consult your doctor about the drug and its dosage.
- It is best to visit a neurologist and take urine and blood tests. Especially if before this the child suffered a disease.
- Do not overfeed the child on the day of vaccination.
- If there is a suspicion that the child may get sick, or if someone in the family is sick, you should postpone the vaccine.
- The vaccine must be of good quality and correctly administered.
Should I do DTP?
Currently, vaccine rejection can be observed . Remember: the disease threatens with much greater problems than the consequences that occur after a DTP vaccine is given. Komarovsky’s reviews, he said, had heard different things about vaccination, but there were always more pluses than against. After all, having been ill with diphtheria or tetanus, immunity to these diseases does not appear. Medicine does not stand still, and vaccines become more purified and safer. It is worth considering this. No need to risk the health and life of the child. A quality vaccine will be able to reduce the risks of side effects, an attentive doctor. Health to you and your children.