Carriers of a terrible infection that destroyed entire cities in the past are rodents. We are talking about the plague, the outbreaks of which are still recorded in the countries of Africa, South and North America. Relatively recently, in the 90s of the XX century, an epidemic of this infection was registered in India, from which more than 12,000 people died. Surprisingly, there is no downward trend 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 disease prevention is necessary for the population living in countries with a threatening risk of infection. The most effective method is the plague vaccination, the features of which and the indications for its formulation will be discussed in this article.
How infection occurs
Plague is a natural focal pathology of an infectious nature. The disease is always very severe and sometimes fatal. Dangeris 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 also serve as a secondary cause. In this case, the pulmonary form of the disease develops. You can pick up the disease very simply - through the bites of the rodents themselves or the fleas living on them, if they themselves have the disease. In this case, the pathology develops quite 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 in a person of a sharp chill and severe intoxication. The patient complains of severe weakness, his gait becomes unsteady and the temperature rises to critical levels. The main symptoms of the plague include:
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- sharp muscle pain;
- fever;
- an increase in heart rate and a sharp drop in blood pressure;
- weakness and weakness;
- loss of consciousness or confusion.
Patients are subject to mandatory hospitalization. Doctors start from the form of pathology, choosing the tactics of treatment. Usually use a course of antibiotic therapy, which lasts at least 10 days. Otherwise, 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 be vaccinated against the plague.person.
Creator of the vaccine
The vaccine was originally created from dead plague rods that were destroyed by the heat of the human body. Many people wonder who invented the plague vaccine. For the first time, a liquid administered 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 most effective preventive measure is a vaccine created from live but weakened plague strains when special bacteriophages are used. It was this plague vaccination that was invented in the recent 1934 by Pokrovskaya Magdalina, who was the first to test its effect on her own body.
Modern drug
Currently, only vaccination is recognized as an effective measure of protection against a formidable disease. The plague vaccine is a homogeneous white powder, which is packaged in glass vials for injection. The composition of the product is as follows:
- The active substance is the microbial cells of the plague, alive 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 exposed to chemical attack, after which they completely lose their virulent properties (it is no longer possible to get sick from them). At the same time, pathogenic organisms are quite capable of multiplying in internal organs and inlymph nodes.
What happens after vaccination
When a person is vaccinated against the 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 there is a re-encounter with a similar pathogen, 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 person be vaccinated against the plague.
The name of the drug on each package is given both in Latin and in Russian and sounds like "Live dry plague vaccine." It is usually supplied in cartons containing 10 powder vials. They are completely sterile and must be opened immediately before the injection.
When the plague is vaccinated
Vaccination is essential to prevent disease. The injection can be given to adults and children from two years of age. The persons who are shown the injection are as follows:
- Veterinarians and people who catch rodents, transport them, and slaughter them.
- Laboratory workers who have contact with live plague culture or infected animals. And scientists who research contaminated materials should also be vaccinated.
- Employees of expeditionary services engaged in geological excavations or pasture-land reclamation activities.
- To all people in the area where the disease is spreading.
Also, all he alth workers who travel to epidemic areas and treat infected people are also vaccinated against the plague.
How vaccination is done
The vaccine can be administered in several ways. There are four of them in total, which we will describe below:
- Dermal. Drops of liquid are applied to the forearm area, the total dose is 0.15 ml. Further, cross-shaped incisions are made in these places and the preparation is actively rubbed.
- Subcutaneous. Enter by injection under the lower angle of the scapula. A dosage of 0.5 ml is used.
- Subcutaneous without needle. The vaccine is injected with a special sterilized injector into the area of the deltoid muscle. The standard dosage is 0.5 ml, but the doctor may, based on the age of the patient, increase or decrease it.
- Intradermal. Injected with a needle and 0.1 ml is used.
The method for administering the vaccine is chosen by the doctor, depending on the conditions, the condition of the patient and his age. But it is important to always consider possible contraindications, which are quite extensive.
When vaccination is contraindicated
It is necessary to know exactly if the plague is vaccinated under certain conditions. So, a planned injection will be prohibited in the following cases:
- if the patient has an acute infectious pathology;
- when availableliver and kidney disease;
- with heart defects and anomalies of its development;
- if diagnosed with diabetes;
- in the second half of pregnancy;
- if the patient has a duodenal or gastric ulcer;
- if there is a history of bronchial asthma.
After suffering SARS and other acute diseases, vaccination can be carried out, but it is necessary to wait a month for the 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 possible travel to countries with a potential source of infection, you need to know how long the plague vaccination lasts. Its activity lasts about a year, so after this time it is necessary to repeat the procedure.
Could there be side effects
Don't be intimidated by the need to be vaccinated against the human plague. Where the injection is made, the conditions of sterility must always be observed, therefore the manipulation is almost always carried out in the conditions of the treatment room. Of course, during an epidemic, it is perfectly acceptable to use every opportunity for vaccination. In this case, complications usually do not arise from the injection, but possible cases of a negative reaction should be noted:
- swelling and swelling at the injection site of plague sticks;
- hyperemia, but mild;
- pain in the injection area.
The following symptoms that patients may complain about indicate the activity of live bacteria injected subcutaneously:
- slight increase in temperature;
- reddening of the skin;
- headache and general malaise;
- skin rash.
Sometimes, pathological reactions can be recorded that threaten the life and he alth of the patient, but they are very rare and are associated with individual reactions.
Vaccination schedule
Vaccinations against plague are in 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 live plague pathogens should be vaccinated.
It should be understood that for the most part, experts support the idea of mass vaccination of people against a formidable pathology. Thanks to modern developments, it was possible to reduce the prevalence of plague in the world. However, outbreaks of infection have often been recorded recently, but they no longer pose such a 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 an hour or an hour and remain under the supervision of a doctor. Sometimes dizziness may disturb, weakness will appear. In severe cases, urticaria develops, angioedema and anaphylactic shock appear. A he alth worker is able to stop such symptoms and prevent the development of adverse consequences.
Conclusion
Vaccination against plague can be delivered no earlier than two months after vaccination against other diseases. This rule applies to children. Adults only need to squeeze 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. It is recommended to inject 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 developed medicine.
