Today, many parents write a rejection of vaccinations for their babies. Everyone has their own explanations for this. Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s hard to definitely answer. Tuberculosis is a very dangerous disease that, if untreated, can cause the development of many health complications.
In our country, they are being approached at the state level. According to the order of the Ministry of Health No. 109 of 2003, each child over the age of 1 year is required to undergo a Mantoux test. It is completely safe for children and has no contraindications and side effects. However, its importance cannot be underestimated, since this test can detect tuberculosis at the earliest stages.
But there are a number of other dangerous pathologies that require prevention, some of which can even lead to death. Therefore, many parents have a question about what vaccinations after Mantoux need to be done and after what period of time. Let's look at this issue in more detail, we will understand the main aspects related to vaccination of children.
What is tuberculosis?
Before you know how long after Mantoux is vaccinated to immunize a child and what vaccines are used, let's first understand the basic concepts.
Many people do not know what tuberculosis is and why it is dangerous. This is a very serious disease of infectious etiology, which is not always treatable. Its main insidiousness is that in the early stages of development it is asymptomatic, therefore, it is not always possible to diagnose and start treatment on time. In a neglected form, consumption, as they also call tuberculosis, gives complications, and with an acute course there is a high probability of death.
Possible consequences
With prolonged absence of therapy, tuberculosis can provoke the development of many serious complications. Among the most common, the following can be distinguished:
- destruction of the vessels of the lungs, accompanied by internal bleeding;
- atelectasis;
- inflammatory lesion of the pleura;
- spontaneous pneumothorax;
- fistula;
- amyloid dystrophy;
- decompensated myocardial dysfunction;
- renal failure.
All of these complications are very dangerous, they pose a great threat to the health and life of the baby. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose tuberculosis as soon as possible and begin treatment. But there are a number of other serious diseases that need to be prevented. In order to develop immunity to them, children are vaccinated after Mantoux. But there are a number of nuances that every parent should take into account. They will be described in detail later in this article.
Pirke reaction
The Mantoux test (when you can be vaccinated after this test to immunize a child will be discussed in the following sections) is a test that allows you to detect antibodies to the causative agent of tuberculosis in the blood. Its essence lies in the fact that during the procedure, a drug containing Koch's bacillus is injected under the skin. Within 72 hours, the body must respond to it. A papule is formed on the body of the child, the size of which is of interest to doctors. If there are no problems, then she will not go beyond certain boundaries. The absence of any external manifestations suggests that the child is at an increased risk of contracting tuberculosis. The final diagnosis is based on the diameter of the “button”:
- negative - 0-1 mm;
- doubtful - 2-4 mm;
- positive - more than 5 mm.
The last immune response is also classified according to the following types of intensity, depending on the diameter of the papule:
- weak - 5-9 mm;
- average - 10-14 mm;
- high - 15-17 mm.
If everything is in order, then there is no particular reason for concern. However, many parents do not cease to worry about the question of what vaccinations can be done after Mantoux. And this is not surprising, because any infectious diseases are very difficult for children to tolerate, and they can also cause serious complications.
Why research?
The Pirke reaction is an allergic diagnostic method that can determine if the body produces antibodies to tuberculosis. It is necessary in order to develop the ability of the immune system to independently fight the pathogen.
The main objective of the method is to identify among children the sick for the first time, patients over 12 months old, as well as the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the early stages.
Doctors need this information to assess the patient’s condition and draw up the most effective treatment program.
Does the reaction of Pirke affect the immunity of the child?
Any vaccine in the year after Mantoux should be taken very seriously, since this test, although safe for the health of children, nevertheless, it has some consequences. It is important to consider that the opinions of qualified specialists regarding the effect of this test on the state of immunity differ. Some believe that it does not create any burden on the protective functions of the body, while others adhere to the opposite point of view, claiming that the vaccine is toxic.
However, the safety of the Pirke reaction has long been scientifically proven, so there is no particular reason for concern. It does not have any negative effects on the body, does not undermine health. Thus, you can safely do other mandatory vaccinations after Mantoux. What exactly and when, you can find out more.
Time interval
When to get vaccinated after Mantoux? This question haunts every young parent. There is a popular belief that after it, for complete recovery, immunity requires at least one month. But this is a mistake. The Pirke reaction is not a vaccination, because the drug is administered under the skin, and not intravenously, so immunization can be carried out after three days, provided that the result was negative.
It is worth noting that carrying out tuberculosis diagnostics does not apply to reactogenic research methods that provoke an immunological reaction. Therefore, the question of how long after the vaccine is given to Mantoux disappears by itself. But if the result was positive, then the doctor can prescribe an additional examination in order to confirm it and prevent the development of undesirable consequences.
Tuberculosis vaccine
BCG is one of the most common vaccinations that are used to prevent the development of a dangerous disease. As a rule, it is prescribed to children in the first days after birth. This vaccine protects babies from tuberculosis. It acts for one year, after which Pirke’s reaction is assigned, which checks whether the body produces antibodies to the pathogen or not.
If, for whatever reason, BZD was not done, then 3 days before the proposed immunization, a Mantoux test is performed. If the result is negative, then vaccination is prescribed. In addition, the child is first taken blood and urine for a general analysis.
AKDS, KKP and others
What vaccine is given after Mantoux? The vaccination schedule is designed in such a way that after the test, immunization is carried out for such dangerous infectious diseases as diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. If the test showed that the body produces antibodies to Koch's bacillus, and the diameter of the “pill” did not exceed four millimeters, then vaccination is carried out.
In addition, at the age of 12 months, children are vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. In this case, both mono and combination preparations can be used. The latter are more preferable because they are highly effective and provide reliable protection, and their introduction is carried out only once.
Other vaccines
A tuberculin test is not included in the vaccination calendar, so it does not have an exact timing. It was described above what vaccinations are given to children after Mantoux. However, so that they do not affect the accuracy of the test results, you must adhere to the following rules:
- any live immunobiological preparations are administered one and a half months before the assigned Pirke reaction;
- in no case should you test and vaccinate on the same day;
- after the Mantoux test, vaccinations are allowed on the third day.
Despite the fact that tuberculosis does not pose any threat to children, it is better not to rush with vaccination. This is especially true when the result is positive. In this case, the child will have to undergo additional research to make an accurate diagnosis.
When can I make a Pirke reaction after immunization?
This article has already been considered what vaccine is given after Mantoux. As a rule, a test is done before vaccination, but in medical practice there are times when this is not possible. Immunization of children involves the introduction of medications into the body that activate protective functions and stimulate the production of antibodies. This negatively affects the accuracy of the results of the tuberculin test. A “tablet” may be too large in diameter for no apparent reason. As a result of this, the baby will have to undergo additional research. To prevent this, the test is postponed for one month, and when using live vaccines - for 6 weeks. When the state of the immune system stabilizes, you can get the correct results.
When is the Pirke reaction made after an illness?
The previous section described in detail how much time after Mantoux vaccinations can be assigned to children. They are made in accordance with a predetermined schedule. However, he can move if the child is ill shortly before the planned vaccination. This is due to the fact that any disease weakens the immune system, so doctors cannot predict how the Pirke reaction will go. It is impossible to name the exact dates, since everything here depends on the characteristics of a particular pathology:
- ARVI. It is easily tolerated by children, and full recovery occurs after 14 days.
- Inflammation of the lungs is a very serious disease that occurs in all people in different ways. The decision to discharge the patient is made by the attending physician based on his clinical picture. The Mantoux test can be performed no earlier than 30 days after recovery.
- Mononucleosis. This pathology is infectious, but, unlike others, it affects cells that ensure the normal functioning of the immune system. As a result, protective functions are reduced, and the body's susceptibility to various diseases increases. With this diagnosis, vaccinations after Mantoux are prescribed a year after a full recovery.
- Chickenpox. To recover from it, the children's body takes 20-25 days. Previously, leading a baby to Pirke’s reaction makes no sense, since the results will be unreliable.
If the test was carried out shortly before infection, then the likelihood of developing side effects is high. According to qualified specialists, the most common are:
- fever;
- sleep disorder;
- decreased or complete lack of appetite;
- skin rash;
- itching
- allergic reactions;
- nettle fever;
- anaphylactic shock.
Parents should be prepared for the problems listed above. If they occur, you must immediately go to the hospital to receive qualified medical care.
Mantoux reaction and immunization: can it be carried out together?
In practice, this is extremely rare, since vaccination is carried out in accordance with the schedule. The drugs used are highly compatible with other medications, therefore vaccination for the purpose of immunization can be carried out already 24 hours after testing. But if vaccination was first given, then tuberculosis diagnostics can be carried out only after a month.
Conclusion
Tuberculosis is one of the most dangerous diseases, therefore, its prevention and treatment must be approached very seriously. To prevent the development and detection of pathology in the early stages of the course, children are given a Mantoux test. As you already understood, this test is completely harmless, it does not affect the vaccination schedule. Therefore, you can not worry about anything, and after 3 days to lead the child to the hospital for immunization. Nothing terrible will happen.