The carriers of a terrible infection that destroys entire cities in the past are rodents. This is a plague, outbreaks of which are still recorded in Africa, South and North America. Relatively recently, in the 90s of the 20th century, an epidemic of this infection was recorded in India, from which more than 12,000 people died. It is surprising that there is no tendency towards a decrease in the number of infected people and thousands of infected people are recorded in this country every year. Due to the high risk of death, planned prevention of the disease is necessary for the population living in countries with an imminent risk of infection. The most effective method is vaccination against the plague, the features of which and indications for its formulation will be considered in this article.
How does infection happen?
A natural focal pathology of an infectious nature is the plague. The disease always proceeds in a very serious form and sometimes causes death. The danger is that the disease is extremely contagious, so the epidemic process is developing quite quickly.
Rodents are recognized as the main source of infection, but a sick person can serve as a secondary cause. In this case, a pulmonary form of the disease develops. You can catch the disease very simply - through the bites of the rodents themselves or the fleas that live on them, if they have the disease itself. In this case, the pathology develops rather quickly. The incubation period lasts no more than six days, and the disease begins with a sudden deterioration in well-being.
Typical manifestations of the disease
The onset of infection is characterized by the appearance of a sharp chill in a person and severe intoxication. The patient complains of a sharp weakness, he becomes a shaky gait and the temperature rises to critical levels. The main symptoms of plague include:
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- sharp muscle pain;
- fever;
- increased heart rate and a sharp drop in blood pressure;
- weakness and weakness;
- loss of consciousness or confusion.
Patients are subject to mandatory hospitalization. Doctors repel a form of pathology, choosing treatment tactics. Usually use a course of antibiotic therapy, which lasts at least 10 days. For the rest, the treatment is aimed at eliminating the symptoms, because there are no specific drugs to cure the disease, and the only way to protect yourself from the disease is to vaccinate the person with the plague.
Vaccine creator
Initially, the vaccine was created from dead plague sticks that were destroyed by the high temperature of the human body. Many people wonder who invented the plague vaccine. For the first time, the fluid used to protect against the bubonic variety of the disease was invented by Vladimir Khavkin. But at first she was inanimate.
Modern medicine recognizes that the vaccine created from living but weakened strains of the plague when special bacteriophages are used is the most effective preventive measure. It was such a vaccine against the plague that was invented in the recent 1934 Pokrovskaya Magdalene, which was the first to experience its effect on its own body.
Modern drug
Currently, only vaccination is recognized as an effective measure of protection against a formidable disease. The plague vaccine is a uniform white powder that is packaged in glass bottles for injection. The composition of the tool is as follows:
- The active substance is the microbial cells of the plague, live, but weakened.
- As a stabilizer add: dextrin, lactose, ascorbic acid, thiourea.
- Next, there is a special filler consisting of vanillin, cocoa powder, glucose, starch and menthol.
Microbial cells are chemically exposed, after which they completely lose their virulent properties (it is already impossible to get sick from them). In this case, pathogenic organisms are quite capable of multiplying in the internal organs and in the lymph nodes.
What happens after vaccination?
When a person is vaccinated against plague, microbial cells begin their active action. The clinical picture characteristic of the disease is not observed, however, the human immune system begins to work actively, creating individual protection against the introduced strains.
If a second meeting with a similar causative agent of the disease occurs, then the body already has a sufficient supply of antibodies that can quickly destroy the infection. However, it must be remembered that only about a year can a vaccine be given against the plague to humans.
The name of the drug on each package is given in both Latin and Russian and sounds like “Plague live dry vaccine”. It is usually supplied in carton packs containing 10 vials of powdered contents. They are completely sterile and must be opened immediately before injection.
When a plague vaccine is given
Vaccination is necessary for the prevention of the disease. Injection can be given to adults and children from the age of two. Persons who are shown the injection are as follows:
- Veterinarians and people who are involved in catching rodents, their transportation, as well as slaughter.
- Lab workers who come in contact with a living plague culture or infected animals. And also vaccines should be subjected to scientists conducting research on contaminated materials.
- Workers of expeditionary services involved in geological excavations or pasture-reclamation measures.
- All people in the territory of the disease.
Also, a vaccine against plague is done by all health workers traveling to places of the epidemic and treating those infected.
How is vaccination done?
The vaccine can be administered in several ways. There are four of them, which we will describe below:
- Cutaneous. Drops of liquid are applied to the forearm area; in total, the total dose is 0.15 ml. Further, cruciform incisions are made in these places and the preparation is rubbed in actively.
- Subcutaneous. Enter by injection at the lower angle of the scapula. A dosage of 0.5 ml is used.
- Subcutaneous without needle. The vaccine is administered by a special sterilized injector into the deltoid muscle. The standard dosage is 0.5 ml, but the doctor can proceed from the patient's age and reduce or increase it.
- Intradermal. It is inserted with a needle and 0.1 ml of the drug is used.
The method for administering the vaccine is chosen by the doctor, depending on the conditions, condition of the patient and his age. But it is important to always consider possible contraindications, which are quite extensive.
When vaccination is contraindicated
You need to know for sure whether the plague vaccine is given in certain conditions. So, a planned injection will be prohibited in the following cases:
- if the patient has an acute infectious pathology;
- when there are diseases of the liver and kidneys;
- with heart defects and abnormalities of its development;
- if diabetes is diagnosed;
- in the second half of pregnancy;
- if the patient has a duodenal ulcer or stomach;
- if there is a history of bronchial asthma.
After acute respiratory viral infections and other acute diseases, vaccination can be carried out, but it is necessary to wait a month for a person to fully recover. If the patient has been diagnosed with hepatitis or meningococcal infection, then the injection is delayed for up to six months.
Before you travel to countries with a potential source of infection, you need to know how long the plague vaccine works. Its activity lasts about a year, so after this time, you must repeat the procedure.
Can there be adverse reactions
Should not be afraid of the need to be vaccinated against human plague. Where an injection is made, sterility conditions must always be observed, therefore, manipulation is almost always carried out in a treatment room. Of course, during an epidemic, it is perfectly acceptable to use any opportunity for vaccination. In this case, complications usually do not arise from an injection, but possible cases of a negative reaction should be noted:
- swelling and swelling at the injection site of the plague sticks;
- hyperemia, but mild;
- soreness in the injection area.
The following symptoms that patients may complain of indicate the activity of live bacteria injected subcutaneously:
- a slight increase in temperature;
- redness of the skin;
- headache and general malaise;
- skin rash.
Sometimes pathological reactions that threaten the life and health of the patient can be recorded, but they are very rare and are associated with individual reactions.
Vaccination schedule
Vaccinations against plague are on the vaccination calendar, but they are carried out only according to epidemic indications. This means that people who live in potentially dangerous areas or deal with living pathogens of the plague should be vaccinated.
It should be understood that for the most part specialists support the idea of mass vaccination of people against formidable pathology. Thanks to modern developments, it was possible to reduce the prevalence of plague in the world. Recently, however, outbreaks of infection have often been recorded, but they no longer pose the same danger as before.
As the practice of using a modern vaccine shows, it is well tolerated even by children. However, doctors recommend that in order to avoid manifestations of negative consequences and allergic reactions, do not leave the treatment room for the first half hour or an hour and remain under the supervision of a doctor. Sometimes dizziness may disturb, weakness will appear. In severe cases, urticaria develops, Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock appear. The health worker is able to stop such symptoms and prevent the development of adverse effects.
Conclusion
The plague vaccine can be delivered no earlier than two months after vaccination against other diseases. This rule applies to children. Adults only need to squeeze out a month. The culture is very sensitive to antibiotics, therefore, against the background of treatment with them, the injection will be ineffective.
Vaccination is considered mandatory, but not everyone needs to be vaccinated. A shot is recommended if you plan to visit countries with a potential risk of infection. If people live in disadvantaged areas, then even children need to be vaccinated. Only in this way can this disease be eradicated, as has already been done in countries with advanced medicine.