Chicken pox is a disease called childhood, because the vast majority of people carry it before the age of twelve. The source of chickenpox is a type of herpes virus. But he can also hit adults whom he bypassed at a young age, but they did not want to be vaccinated.
Features of the disease in adults and children
In young patients, chickenpox is quite easy. The older the person, the harder he suffers from this disease. However, some children may experience complications. They are mainly observed in babies with weak immunity, as well as in those who suffer from chronic diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus.
In adults, the picture is somewhat different. Almost everyone who has chickenpox over the age of 20 years has complications in the form of scars on the skin, fever, pneumonia, and otitis media. In addition, visual impairment, inflammation of the heart muscle, even brain damage can be observed. Consider whether an adult chickenpox vaccine can be given.
Who is shown the vaccine
This disease is especially dangerous for women in the "position" and persons with immunodeficiency. Oncological diseases, the use of corticosteroid hormones are also considered factors that lower the body's defenses, so such patients are highly likely to get sick.
There is a theory that people who have suffered from chickenpox may later encounter its consequence - herpes zoster. This lesion is provoked by the same type of herpes as chicken pox, but it is more severe and often resumes. Is an adult patient required to have the chickenpox vaccine?
This procedure is optional and is optional. But the introduction of antigenic material in order to induce immunity to the disease is the only sure way to neutralize infection in adults who have not suffered an illness in childhood.
When to put the vaccine
Vaccination can be done at any age. Vaccination is free of charge at a medical institution with a referral from a general practitioner.
Doctors recommend vaccinating everyone who has not suffered this disease in childhood. Be sure to put the chickenpox vaccine in an adult who belongs to the following categories:
- Women who plan to become pregnant.
- People with impaired immunological reactivity, which are characterized by the loss of one or more substances of the immune apparatus.
- Patients with malignant tumors.
- Persons with leukemia (bone marrow damage, which is provoked by a violation of its functioning of the hematopoietic system).
- Medical workers.
- People who work in preschool.
- Citizens with chronic heart failure.
- Those with diabetes (a metabolic disease that is based on a lack of produced insulin and an increase in glucose).
- People with hypertension (increased systolic and diastolic pressure).
Vaccination and pregnancy
This is a dangerous time for a woman, which is characterized by the vulnerability of the body to various infections, in particular, to herpes. Chickenpox can lead to the loss of a child, as well as cause fetal pathology, underdevelopment of internal organs and limbs in the baby.
It is especially necessary to be afraid of chickenpox for women in the “position”, having preschool children and attending child care facilities. You can not be vaccinated during pregnancy, but it is necessary to vaccinate when planning it. This procedure should be done three months before conception.
Recommendations
Persons after coronary heart disease, as well as with severe chronic damage to the lungs and kidneys, should also be vaccinated against chicken pox. The disease can lead to an exacerbation of their ailments and to serious consequences.
In retirement age, vaccination is not prohibited, and in certain situations it is even recommended. It is definitely necessary to be vaccinated if the patient is at risk.
The chickenpox vaccine is given after contact with the patient, as well as for preventive purposes. It is done within 3 days after close contact with the patient, it neutralizes the disease at an early stage.
There is a widespread opinion that a person who has had chickenpox in childhood can no longer fear re-infection. However, there are situations when people become infected with this disease again. Experts attribute this to the fact that the virus is able to mutate.
After ten, maybe twenty years, there is a chance to get chickenpox again, because another virus will provoke it. Therefore, all adults who are at risk should be given the chickenpox vaccine.
Advantages and disadvantages
Benefits:
- Reduction in incidence.
- Neutralization of herpes zoster.
- Prevention of autoimmune diseases provoked by chickenpox.
- Chickenpox in adulthood can lead to death, the vaccine saves from this.
- There is the possibility of emergency vaccination against chickenpox when communicating with infected people.
The disadvantages include the following:
- Vaccination in childhood is not considered evidence that the child will not get chickenpox. The process only moves over to the adult period.
- Vaccination is carried out with a live virus, therefore, the vaccinated individual may be contagious to other people.
- There is a likelihood of post-vaccination effects.
- A protective reaction against chickenpox begins to appear immediately after vaccination. But maximum performance is achieved after 1.5 months.
What chickenpox vaccines are
In Russia, only two drugs are used. Names of chickenpox vaccines for adults:
- Okavax
- Varilrix.
These drugs contain live but weakened chickenpox viruses. It is allowed to apply them to both adults and children. Okavax is produced by the French company Sanofi, and Varillrix is manufactured by Belgium. They can be set both planned and in emergency situations.
But there is a main difference - Okavax is introduced once, and Varilrix - in two stages. The first vaccine is made with live varicella viruses. It can be used to prevent infection, comes complete with two bottles, as well as a solvent.
The structure of Varilrix includes a weakened chickenpox virus. This vaccine can be used for adults, children, as well as people who have had contact with sick chickenpox.
When planning pregnancy for prophylaxis, it is important for women to take an injection several months before conception.
Where to get vaccinated
Chickenpox vaccine for adults is administered to the upper arm under the skin. If it is not possible to deliver the injection in this way, then an injection can be given intramuscularly.
It is forbidden to vaccinate intravenously. Buttocks are not suitable for injection, since subcutaneous fat is strongly expressed there, so the medicine will be absorbed for a long time.
How long is the drug
According to reviews, the vaccine against chickenpox "Okavaks" forms a lasting immunity for many years. Studies of the drug Varilrix confirmed that protection against the disease remains for about one year.
Any vaccination against chickenpox for adult patients will need to be repeated, since none of them guarantees lifelong immunity.
What to do if there was contact with the patient
The use of chickenpox vaccine within seventy-two hours after contact with an infected person can prevent infection or minimize the manifestation of its signs and complications. The effectiveness of the drug is 90% for 3 days and 70% on the fourth day.
A patient who has been given the vaccine with a live virus is contagious to others for some time. Vaccination against chicken pox has been in effect for 20 years, which indicates its increased effectiveness.
Vaccination does not guarantee that a person will never get infected, but it will help to avoid serious complications, and the disease will proceed in a mild form with a small amount of rashes.
Limitations
Vaccination or vaccine against chickenpox for adult patients has the following prohibitions:
- Pregnancy.
- Acute pathology.
- Leukopenia (a condition in which there is a decrease in the level of white blood cells in the blood).
- Bronchial asthma (chronic inflammation of the respiratory system).
- Increased sensitivity to previous introduction.
- The use of immunoglobulins.
Side effects of vaccination
Negative reactions to vaccination in both children and adults are very rare. As a rule, these are local manifestations in the form of pain at the injection site, as well as hyperemia and edema. These signs are observed from the first days, but quickly pass. Up to five percent of vaccinees may additionally report the following symptoms:
- Temperature rise.
- Rashes and itching.
- Lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes).
- Weakness.
- Fatigue.
- Pain in the abdomen.
- Muscle pains.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucosa).
- Cough.
Symptoms of chickenpox are likely, but they will be easier and without complications. The development of allergies is not excluded. It is especially necessary to fear anaphylaxis and Quincke's edema.
What do the doctor's say
Medical specialists ask patients to pay attention to a number of specific factors:
- To vaccinate or not for chicken pox, only the person himself must decide. There are no regulations requiring this to be done.
- Before vaccination, it is advisable to consult a doctor about the availability of indications and restrictions on use.
- People at risk should be vaccinated first.
- Vaccination protects not only from chickenpox, but also from shingles.
- Thanks to vaccinations, emergency prevention can also be carried out after contact with an infected person.
- It is advisable to give an injection when planning pregnancy.
Patient opinions
According to reviews of chickenpox vaccine for adults, the disadvantages include the possibility of post-vaccination consequences, as well as the short duration of the immune system and its long formation.
Patients of any age receive the same concentration of the drug. The cost of one vaccine can vary from 2500 to 5000 rubles. For some it is expensive. There are people who believe that vaccination should be planned and free. Where to make a chickenpox vaccine for an adult in Samara or in another city in the country? You can contact any medical institution with a referral from a therapist.