DTP: adverse reactions, vaccine effects. DTP: Pros and Cons

The issue of the need for vaccinations for newborns has recently been quite acute in modern society. Many parents decide to abandon such preventive measures, suggesting that vaccination poses a more serious threat to the health of the baby than potential diseases. Doctors warn that such decisions can have very negative consequences, up to repeating epidemics of long-forgotten ailments throughout the country (for example, diphtheria). The greatest sense is caused by such a vaccination as DTP. Adverse reactions to it are quite common, which, of course, makes you think about the appropriateness of its implementation. Let's try to figure out how much the child needs this vaccine, what may threaten its implementation or refusal of it.

What is a vaccine?

So, let's talk about what DTP vaccination is about. It seems to children that this is just an unpleasant injection, but parents should understand that such a vaccine is designed to provide protection against such terrible diseases as tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. All these problems are characterized by the severity of the course, the presence of a large number of complications for the child's body and the difficulty of treatment.

The vaccine helps to form the necessary immunity, but does not give a full guarantee of the absence of the possibility of disease. Despite this fact, the baby who picks up the infection after a planned injection, transfers it in a milder form (without complications), gets better faster.

Classic reaction forms

If you decide to get your child vaccinated with DTP, the adverse reactions to the vaccine should be studied very closely. Such information will help you decide on the need for vaccination, weigh the pros and cons, and if necessary, take appropriate measures to stay ahead. The response of the body to the introduction of a foreign agent is conditionally divided into three main categories:

1. Minimal or weak form. It is characterized by a slight change in the behavior of the baby, slight malaise (tearfulness, refusal to eat), an increase in body temperature to 37.5 degrees.
2. Moderate or medium form. It can manifest itself in a change in the child’s usual behavior, he becomes more apathetic or, on the contrary, nervous, often irritated for no reason, asks for his hands. The baby refuses food, often cries, shows other signs of anxiety, body temperature often rises to 38.5 degrees.
3. Severe form. It is accompanied by the symptoms indicated in the first and second case. In addition, there is a strong fever (temperature above 38.5 degrees), convulsions, chills can be observed. The child experiences a great malaise, often can not get out of bed.
   

Possible serious consequences of vaccination

Unfortunately, there are more serious consequences of DTP vaccination. Adverse reactions in rare cases can be expressed in:

• vomiting (found in only 2 out of 100 vaccinees);
• extremely high body temperature (from 39 degrees and above);
• brain damage;
• impaired physical or mental development;
• coma;
• allergic reaction (rash, urticaria, up to Quincke edema).

Such manifestations are quite rare, most often in cases where the vaccine was given at the wrong time or in the presence of obvious contraindications to it.

Adverse reaction at the immediate injection site

There are local effects of DTP. Adverse reactions after the introduction of the vaccine can be expressed in the appearance of compaction at the injection site. Most often, this zone slightly swells, the skin acquires a reddish tint, pain begins to appear, which gives the child the greatest inconvenience. The baby can’t sleep, trying to constantly touch the wound, crying. Parents rarely pay attention to such a seal, however, if these symptoms are present, the child should be given an antipyretic, which can also reduce pain.

Whooping cough

Many parents worry that after DTP, their child will become ill or experience discomfort. Well, this is quite possible, but you need to understand what is on the other side of the scale. What are you more afraid of: a phenomenon like DTP (vaccination)? Temperature, pain, temporary moods? Or the complications caused by one of the worst diseases that will spoil the baby’s health for life?

So, let's talk about the diseases that the vaccine is designed to protect your child from. One of the most difficult of these is whooping cough. Its characteristic signs are a dry, frequent cough, a slight runny nose in the first few days of the disease, and a slight increase in body temperature. Over time, whooping cough progresses, coughing attacks become more frequent, accompanied by cramping and shortness of breath. Peak deterioration occurs on the 15-20th day from the onset of the disease. It is customary to distinguish three main forms of whooping cough:

1. Easy. The patient almost does not feel a change in his condition. Only characteristic attacks of a rare cough remind of the ailment (no more than 15 times a day), they do not interfere with the child in his usual life.
2. Medium. The patient often has a loss of appetite, insomnia. The child becomes lethargic, lethargic and slow. There are wheezing in the lungs, fever may occur, coughing attacks are more frequent and stronger (up to 30 times a day).
3. Heavy. High fever, fever. The patient can hardly sleep and eat, becomes extremely irritable. Among the external signs, pallor of the skin, the appearance of edema stand out. Coughing episodes can overcome a baby up to 50 times a day, more often in the evening and at night, while there is a violation of respiratory function, bleeding and vomiting are observed. Involuntary urination may be observed.

In most cases, the disease ends with successful healing, however, in children under one year old, complications are often recorded. So, because of whooping cough, pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage, even death are possible. As you can see, the reaction after DTP - compaction, fever and loss of appetite - is the lesser possible evil.

Diphtheria

The second disease the vaccine helps against is diphtheria. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, characterized by severe intoxication of the body and the negative impact of infection on the nervous, vascular and cardiac systems. During an illness, symptoms such as swelling of the pharynx and larynx, an increase in lymph nodes are noted. In some cases, paralysis and malfunction of the internal organs are possible, and deaths are often noted. Before mass vaccination, diphtheria was characterized by a large number of deaths. Treatment of the disease is carried out in an infectious diseases hospital; an infected child must be isolated. After DTP, you can be sure of the reliable protection of the baby from diphtheria.

Tetanus

Tetanus is the third, but no less dangerous disease that a child can avoid after DTP. The bacteria that cause this ailment enter the baby through cuts and wounds that he can get as a result of playing outdoors and indoors. Symptoms of tetanus include fever, sweat, muscle cramps in the face and body. Various complications are quite often noted - it can be a coma, death, respiratory paralysis. It is possible to prevent the disease by administering a vaccine. The consequences of vaccinations are trifles compared to what tetanus can lead to.

Contraindications conditional and absolute

In what cases is it not recommended to be vaccinated with DTP? Contraindications do exist. And they should be known. Some of them are indirect, others are considered absolute. So, the planned vaccination should be postponed in case of the following reasons:

1. Infection. If at this specific moment your child is sick, the planned event must be rescheduled. The period for which the transfer must be performed depends on the severity of the disease and the doctor's recommendations.
2. Stress. If your baby is currently in a state of stress, is experiencing very much from any event, postpone the vaccination for several days.
3. An acute period of the course of a chronic disease. If your child is suffering from any disease on an ongoing basis, then the period of its exacerbation is a signal in order to postpone the DTP vaccine for an indefinite period.

Some symptoms are an absolute contraindication to such a vaccination. Typically, such information is taken into account by the pediatrician, but parents should also be familiar with such data. First of all, these include:

• diseases of the nervous system;
• allergy to the components that make up the vaccine;
• negative reaction to previous vaccinations;
• weak immunity, diseases that affect the baby’s immune system;
• whooping cough.

ADSM - an alternative to DTP

If you want to give your child a DTP vaccine for which there are contraindications, try a lighter version of it, ADSM. So you protect the health of the child and reduce the risk of possible complications. A similar vaccine is used when a baby reaches 4 years of age. This composition includes only two components, it is designed to resist diphtheria and tetanus - the most dangerous diseases that often lead to death. ADSM has far fewer side effects, due to the exclusion of the component responsible for protecting against whooping cough. It often happens that the child is initially given an injection of DTP. Vaccination, temperature, severe allergies suggest to adults that a second injection of the same vaccine will be unsafe for the baby. In this case, re-vaccination is carried out without the pertussis component.

In which case should I see a doctor?

Does your child after AKPD seem lethargic, tired and sick? Do not panic, but some symptoms should be closely monitored. So, you should consult a doctor if:

1. The temperature rises above 39 degrees, does not go astray and holds for a very long time.
2. A prolonged or delayed febrile condition is observed.
3. Hypotension develops (rapid breathing, cyanosis of the skin). This condition lasts, as a rule, no more than 6 hours.
4. Pronounced nervous disorders appear.

If you notice a small seal, moderate temperature and tearfulness of the child after DTP, this does not mean at all that you should sound the alarm and worry. As a rule, most side effects disappear in just one day, you just have to watch the child and be patient. If you think that the baby’s health is in danger, try to contact a specialist.

Preparatory phase before vaccination

Preventive vaccinations are good because they can be planned in advance, canceled if necessary, as well as pre-prepared for them. Two days before the vaccine is administered, it is necessary to start taking antihistamines (protect the body from possible allergic reactions). Immediately after vaccination, without waiting for negative manifestations, the baby should be given an antipyretic. Monitor the behavior of the child and his temperature, if necessary, you will need to use a repeated dose of the drug (especially true in the evening, before going to bed at night). Your further actions should be based on the following algorithm:

1. The first day after vaccination - from 1 to 3 antipyretic suppositories (morning-lunch-night), an antihistamine (once a day).
2. The second day - 1 antipyretic suppository in the presence of temperature, in other cases, medications should not be taken, antihistamines should be taken.
3. The third day - special treatment is not required, if the baby has a fever, you should call a doctor and determine the causes of malaise.

How to choose a cure for temperature

DTP vaccination for children is often accompanied by unpleasant consequences. Do not be afraid of this, any reaction signals that immunity is forming. To prevent possible complications, give your child an antipyretic, without waiting for symptoms of malaise. Many parents ask themselves: "How to choose the remedy by which the temperature gets lost and the pain decreases for such small children?" So, before buying a medicine, pay attention to the following characteristics:

1. The form of the drug should be adapted to the age of the baby (suppositories up to a year, syrup - for older babies. It must be remembered that suppositories are much less likely to provoke an allergic reaction).
2. Buy the composition in advance. It must be given even before the onset of disturbing reactions, otherwise there is a great chance that you will not be able to control them.
3. It is not allowed to use the drug "Aspirin" to reduce the temperature of the child.
4. Alternating medicines with various components, this will help you not to exceed the allowable daily dose and achieve the desired effect.
5. Remember, it is quite possible that even if the first vaccination was easy, the second or third will cause unpleasant symptoms.

Please note: the temperature after DTP, as a rule, lasts for one day (maximum two days). Treatment with antipyretic drugs is carried out for three days (the longest period). If you cannot control the child’s health, be sure to consult a doctor.

DTP vaccination schedule

If you want to vaccinate children, their schedule is very important. For the formation of stable immunity to the three named diseases, it is necessary to carry out the vaccination procedure four times. The classical scheme for the prevention of pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria implies the introduction of doses at the following times:

• the first time - 3 months after birth;
• the second time - 45 days after the first procedure (that is, 4.5 months);
• the third time - 45 days after the second procedure (in 6 months);
• the fourth time it is considered to be revaccination, it is carried out a year after the third injection (approximately at 18 months).

The most important for the formation of immunity are the last two vaccinations. When the baby grows up, he will have to go through several more such events - at 6 and 14 years old. If for some reason it is not allowed to give such vaccinations to children, the vaccination schedule can be slightly shifted. So, repeated preventive injections are not carried out in case of a child’s illness or a situation indicated in the list of contraindications. The transfer period in each case is determined by the pediatrician who is observing the child.

Vaccinations at school and kindergarten are often compulsory; when sending a child to an educational institution, you should be prepared to be asked to provide a vaccination card. Vaccination will help protect your child from whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria while in a fairly large group of children, that is, in the zone of potential danger.

Foreign analogues of DTP

DTP vaccinations can be conditionally divided into several types, that is, domestic and foreign vaccines. Parents can decide for themselves what tool to use to protect their child from possible diseases. The Belgian remedy Infarix has been most popular recently. There are three categories of vaccines for this brand:

• IPV (analogue of DTP and poliomyelitis);
• Penta drug (IPV analogue and hepatitis B);
• Hexa agent (an analogue of the Penta preparation and hemophilic infection).

Among foreign drugs, the compounds Pentaxim, Tetraxim, Hexavac stand out. A wide selection of different vaccines, as a rule, is found in paid medical centers. Recently, however, foreign injection can be done at the district clinic.

If you doubt the need for DTP vaccination, the pros and cons should be weighed very carefully and thoughtfully. Try to perceive first of all the information that experts tell you, and not acquaintances and friends. , , : , . , .