The appearance in the family of a small child is always associated with a lot of excitement and trouble. Caring is full of mouth - these words fully apply to every young parent. One such headache is the question of vaccinations. To put or not to put, what are the pros, what are the disadvantages, when can and when not ... One of the vaccinations that are given to newborn children is the Pentaxim vaccine. It is worthwhile to figure out what kind of animal it is and how painful it is to bite.
What is vaccination?
In simple terms, a vaccine or vaccine is the introduction of a disease into the body of a virus. This is done so that the human body recognizes the substance “thrown” to it as the causative agent of the disease and fights it, thereby developing immunity against this infection. And if the virus gets into the inside of a person again, the antibodies there will recognize it and neutralize it. Thus, the disease is not afraid of the vaccinated person, although, of course, in rare cases, he may be exposed to infection. But even if this happens, the disease will pass in a milder form and almost imperceptibly.
In total, there are several types of vaccines that vary in composition - live, inactivated, recombinant and toxoids. In the first, the causative agents of the disease themselves are kept, so to speak alive, in the second - they are already "killed", in the third there are only parts of cells with bacteria, and the fourth are obtained due to the inactivation of toxins of the pathogens.
Why vaccinations are needed
Many today ask a similar question, but the answer to it is the simplest - so as not to hurt. It is thanks to the existence and effect of vaccinations that a large number of diseases have been eliminated that did not allow to live in peace and often caused the death of a huge number of people in past centuries. For example, smallpox - how many people became its victims!
Vaccines also help fight liver and cervical cancer and prevent the development of the human papillomavirus. Anyway, if the overwhelming majority of the population is vaccinated, then even the unvaccinated (those who have certain contraindications) cannot be infected from anyone - therefore, the disease can come to naught.
To put or not to put
This is another sore point that plagues more than one generation of moms and dads. Many are sure: vaccinations are evil, they carry a danger in themselves, it is because of them that a child can get sick. But if you do not give the baby a vaccine, then nothing will happen to him. It often comes to the fact that even in the maternity hospital women write a refusal to vaccinate crumbs against hepatitis and BCG.
To give or not to vaccinate your baby is the business of each individual parent. Some believe that without vaccination the child will not be taken to kindergarten. This is not so - during registration about vaccinations, of course, they will ask, but if the refusal was written officially at the children's clinic, then the baby will be credited to the kindergarten by assigning it a specific number. Such numbers are given to all children without vaccinations - this shows that the responsibility for the life and health of the child rests solely with the parents, and not healthcare. In school, all vaccines are given only with the written consent of mom and dad, they do not forcibly persuade anyone.
By the way, some doctors themselves are of the opinion that vaccinating a baby before the age of two is not worth it. It is necessary that the crumb acquire its own immunity, and do not interfere with it. This practice is widespread in many countries.
Vaccination Effectiveness
In order for everything to work as it should, you should adhere to certain simple rules:
- Between vaccinations the necessary intervals have to be observed.
- Buying a vaccine is immediately before the procedure itself.
- The procedure can and should be done exclusively by a specialist - that is, a medical professional.
- When buying a vaccine yourself, you must follow the rules for its storage and transportation.
Pentaxim vaccine
One of the mandatory vaccinations for newborn babies is a vaccine against pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria - three in one. It is called DTP and is first introduced to crumbs at the age of three months (in the absence of contraindications). This vaccine is of Russian production; by many it is regarded as too tough, difficult for kids. That is why many parents who decide to instill their child turn to the French analogue of DTP - the Pentaxim vaccine. We are not going to describe the danger of each of the aforementioned diseases here, but what Pentaxim is good for, it is necessary to tell.
The main difference between the imported Pentaxim vaccine and its domestic counterpart is that, although DTP is also a combination, it includes three vaccines, and foreign vaccination - as many as five (more on the composition of the French vaccine will be discussed below). This vaccine can only be given to healthy children, and according to the rules, it is necessary to take urine and blood tests before the procedure (although this is often not done). In addition, there should be no medication from the neurologist.
Pentaxim is a cell-free vaccine that has been widely used in our country since 2008. Among other things, the Pentaxim vaccine gives a very good immune effect and serious body protection, but it does not save meningitis and pneumonia (for some reason, many believe the opposite).
DTP or Pentaxim?
Both the domestic and foreign vaccines have both their supporters and their opponents. Which one is still better for the child?
DTP is inexpensive - what is its plus, unlike the more expensive Pentaxim. The DTP vaccine is quite simple, it protects, as mentioned above, against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, the mortality of children from which, unfortunately, is extremely high. It is set three times. If you introduce DTP to your baby, you will need to take separate vaccinations against polio and Haemophilius influenza - also several times, then with Pentaxim the number of injections will be reduced to only four (versus twelve).
What diseases is Pentaxim vaccine against? From all of the above, and these are five different viruses at once. This is the advantage of Pentaxim over DTP. In addition, he wins with his composition. Whooping cough in Pentaxime does not have a shell that can produce a negative reaction to vaccination. "Pentaxim" after AKDS is well tolerated, on the contrary - poorly.
Both AKDS and Pentaxim have their drawbacks. It is believed that in the domestic vaccine they are present in a more pronounced volume. So, you can not inject children during illness, at a temperature, sensitivity to the components of the vaccine, with encephalopathy and allergies.
Composition of the Pentaxim vaccine
So, Pentaxim, as has been repeated many times, is a combination type vaccine that protects against five different serious diseases at once. The Pentaxim vaccine contains toxoids against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, the hemophilic bacillus polysaccharide (it is in a separate bottle and mixes with the rest when the drug is diluted) and three types of polio virus. Excipients are also present in the vaccine, for example, formaldehyde and acetic acid.
At what age is vaccination needed
The instruction of the Pentaxim vaccine states that the first administration to her baby should be completed at the age of three months. The second and third vaccinations are subsequently given at four and a half months and six months, and revaccination - after a year. Of course, if there are any contraindications, the timing of the injections is delayed - you can get the vaccine even for a child older than a year, if for some reason this was not done before. However, at the same time, if a child older than six months is vaccinated, the third vaccination is done without diluting the vial with the hemophilic bacillus. And in the case of a baby older than a year (if it has not been vaccinated before), he receives only the first vaccine from five diseases, in the future, such a child is injected without the introduction of a hemophilic bacillus.
Medotvod
In the event that the child has any of the following, vaccination should be delayed (or canceled, depending on the recommendation of the pediatrician).
- Hypersensitivity to the drug and / or its components.
- An allergy that appears after a previous injection, if the injection is not the first time.
- Fever, illness - infectious or exacerbation of chronic.
- Encephalopathy
- Convulsions and any other neurological symptoms.
- Brain damage and / or epilepsy.
- Violation of hemocoagulation.
Side effects
Side effects in one manifestation or another may have any medication, not the exception and the Pentaxim vaccine. The vaccine can provoke a fever of more than thirty-eight degrees, a rash, cramps, allergic reactions. Very rarely, but drowsiness and lethargy were noted, as well as, on the contrary, irritability, insomnia, headaches and lingering tears. After the Pentaxim vaccine, the injection site may hurt, it can turn red, probably there will appear a seal that will resolve itself in the very near future, without any measures being taken. Also, a swelling of the injection site is called as a side effect, it also, however, goes away on its own. However, if Quincke's edema suddenly begins, you should not expect it to disappear - you must urgently call a doctor.
Instructions for use
How to put the Pentaxim vaccine? Firstly, it is important to know that a single dose is half a milliliter. Secondly, Pentaxim has its own special syringe that prevents overdosing and minimizes pain in the child. According to the instructions for use of the Pentaxim vaccine, it should be administered intramuscularly. Intravenous and subcutaneous administration is strictly prohibited. Breadcrumbs are placed in the thigh, older children - in the shoulder. As a rule, babies do not feel pain - just a slight tingling sensation, and therefore do not cry during vaccination and behave calmly.
As for the simultaneous use of Pentaxim with other vaccines, it is allowed if these vaccines are from the vaccination calendar (except for BCG). According to the instructions for the Pentaxim vaccine, this vaccine does not affect their ability to develop immunity. However, the pediatrician should be aware of some nuances. For example, what kind of medicine, in addition to Pentaxim, was placed or will be placed in crumbs. Before vaccinating a child, a doctor should carefully examine him to assess the state of health of the baby. If something seems to the doctor as inappropriate to the vaccination recommendations, the vaccine should be postponed. By the way, if the baby had the disease a few weeks before vaccination (less than a month ago), it is also not recommended to put it.
Pentaxim vaccine should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than three years at a temperature of two to eight degrees above zero. It is strictly forbidden to freeze the drug.
Vaccination preparation
There are simple rules that you must definitely adhere to before vaccination.
- Take blood and urine tests.
- Examined by a neurologist.
- When breastfeeding a child, you don’t need to introduce new dishes to his diet (and also mom shouldn’t start eating some new food).
- If previously there were any allergic manifestations, then a couple of days before vaccination, it is better to drink antihistamines.
- A week before vaccination, you should not take any new medicines without first consulting a doctor.
- This may not be useful, but it’s better to have something at hand: you should take care in advance of purchasing antipyretic drugs for the baby (both suppositories and syrup are perfect) - a frequent negative reaction to vaccination can be a temperature above normal.
- As a rule, children tolerate the procedure well, but in case the child is very afraid or will feel pain, you need to bring his favorite toy with you.
Vaccine care
After the baby is injected, it is recommended not to leave the clinic immediately. It is best to stay in it for half an hour - then in case of an allergy or any other negative reaction, medical assistance will be provided immediately. In addition, if the child is in an excited state, this time is more than enough for him to calm down.
Within three days after the introduction of the vaccine, it is necessary to measure the crumb temperature. If it rises above normal, you should give your baby any antipyretic - Panadol, for example, or Nurofen. It is also permissible to wipe the child with warm water or a very weak vinegar solution, but in no case vodka. If the antipyretic does not help the baby, you need to call a doctor.
On the day of vaccination, the baby should not be bathed, nor should one walk with him. The injection site can not be scratched.
Drug Reviews
Pentaxim vaccine reviews are very diverse. Many parents note that babies had a fever - someone slightly, someone quite strong. Moms are advised to give crumbs "Fenistil" to alleviate the condition. Many reviews of the Pentaxim vaccine report that a lump has remained for a long time at the injection site. Because of this, some parents were afraid to re-vaccinate. Among the negative reviews there are words that the child was limping after the vaccine was administered, and that the baby’s leg was swollen and sore, and that he began to sleep worse at night. Parents note that children who are prone to allergies do not respond very well to the hemophilic component of the drug. They are also unhappy with the cost of Pentaxim - it is more expensive than other similar vaccines.
Among the positive reviews about the Pentaxim vaccine, there are words that leg pain and swelling go away (if they appear) very quickly, unlike the domestic vaccination. Some note that they generally do not trust the Russian counterpart. The main advantage that parents are talking about is the presence of a hemophilic bacillus in the Pentaxim vaccine, that is, protection against a hemophilic infection, from which no analogue of this drug protects anymore. In general, there are enough positive and negative reviews, because how many people have so many opinions.
Analogues of Pentaxim
In addition to the domestic DTP vaccine, Pentaxim has other analogues. For example, the Belgian drug "Infanrix." It contains diphtheria toxoid, pertussis antigen, tetanus toxoid, poliomyelitis virus of the first and second types, as well as hemophilic bacillus. It does not contain only the polio virus of the third type - and this is the main difference between the two drugs. By the way, Infanrix can be either ordinary or different types - Infanrix Penta or Infanrix Hexa.
Another analogue of Pentaxim is the Belgian medication Bustrix. It is available in the form of a suspension either in a vial or in a ready-made syringe. There is no hemophilus bacillus in this vaccine, yet the remaining components — tetanus, pertussis and diphtheria toxoids, as well as all three polio viruses — are present in full. The suspension in the vial or in the syringe is Hexaxim, which also does not have a hemophilic bacillus. But “Hexaxim” additionally has hepatitis B virus antigen.
And finally, it is necessary to mention the Tetraxim, which in its components is completely similar to the Bustrix. All analogues of Pentaxim cost at least a little, but still cheaper than the French vaccine.
Interesting Facts
- The name “vaccine” comes from the Latin word “cow”. At the very end of the eighteenth century, it was found that if a person is administered the contents of cowpox, he does not have smallpox.
- The cost of the Pentaxim vaccine is approximately two and a half thousand rubles.
- The vaccine is stored at a temperature not exceeding four degrees above zero.
- It is only possible to vaccinate a child with Pentaxim until six years of age; after this age, drugs containing pertussis cannot be used.
After such a thorough analysis, it should become clear what the Pentaxim vaccine is made of, what are its pros and cons and how to care for the injection site after the procedure. And whether or not to be vaccinated is everyone's personal business, however, knowing the advantages and disadvantages, it is always much easier to solve the problem.