The most dangerous disease of little boys and girls is pneumonia. And pneumonia is considered the main cause of death among babies. According to statistics, this pathology annually takes the lives of more than 1 million children under the age of five. Today we will find out what parents need to do in order to protect their daughter or son from such a scourge. What vaccination against pneumonia is effective, are there any drugs that can prevent the occurrence of this disease? We will also find out the opinions of parents and doctors about vaccinating babies with vaccines against pneumonia.
Danger of disease
Pneumococcal disease is caused by a specific bacterium called pneumococcus. Among the ailments that occur after the body is damaged by this infection are pneumonia, acute otitis media, arthritis, purulent meningitis, pleurisy. All these diseases are dangerous for the he alth and even the life of the child, they threaten him with complications and irreversible consequences in the future. This bacterium usually makes itself felt after other transferred ailments, such asinfluenza, measles, otitis and even the common cold. In this case, there is only one prevention - a timely vaccination against pneumonia for children.
Operation principle
The disease is caused by the ingestion of pneumococci into the human body. These are bacteria, of which there are currently about a hundred species. They do not respond to the usual treatment with antibacterial agents, and this, in turn, complicates the situation. Therefore, vaccination against pneumonia is the most effective way to prevent the development of the disease. The medication that is used to vaccinate children contains substances that can neutralize several types of pneumococci at once. Often these are 5 varieties of bacteria, but there is a vaccine that covers 10 different pathogens.
Types of vaccinations
Today, 3 types of drugs are used to vaccinate children against pneumonia:
- Powder for injections "ACT-Hib".
- Suspension for intramuscular injection "Prevenar".
- Pneumo 23 injection solution.
The principle of operation is almost the same, but some differences are still observed.
Prevenar
This suspension is the most common of the three vaccines listed above. It is done to children, starting from 3 months of life (sometimes even from 2 months). The risk of contracting pneumococcal infection is very high in crumbs under the age of 2 years. Therefore, the advantage of the Prevenar vaccine is quite understandable and logical. This vaccination is given at the following times:
- first - at 3month;
- second - at 4, 5 months;
- third - at 6 months;
- fourth (revaccination) - one and a half years.
This pneumonia vaccine, by the way, can be perfectly and safely combined with other injections. The only exception is BCG (tuberculosis vaccine). If doctors comply with all the terms of vaccination of the baby, then this allows children to form excellent immunity already at the age of 2 years, when the streptococcus bacterium is most dangerous and active.
Even if children are vaccinated against pneumonia, this does not mean that the child will not be able to get this disease. But if he does become infected, then the infection will be mild, without serious consequences for his he alth. Therefore, parents should not refuse to vaccinate their baby with this drug. Moreover, it practically does not cause negative reactions.
Injection solution "Pneumo 23"
This vaccine differs from the previous one in that it is administered to a child after 2 years. This is its main drawback. It is also effective for adults. And its advantage is this.
- It is carried out once, and not the whole course.
- Immunity lasts for 5 years.
- Convenient packaging. The drug is placed in disposable syringes with one dose of the vaccine. For a person of any age, the dose is one - 0.5 ml.
- It was this vaccine that was registered by most European countries, which proves its effectiveness.
- Preparation "Pneumo 23"well compatible with other vaccines, except for the drug against tuberculosis.
- Even if a person has had a disease that is being prevented, this vaccination after pneumonia does not serve as a contraindication to use. That is, it can be done even to those people who have been ill with this disease, so as not to get infected again.
And the restrictions on the use of this tool are:
- Hypersensitivity to drug ingredients, allergic reactions.
- Certain types of diseases (such as hypertension).
Powder for injection "ACT-Hib"
This vaccine is suitable for babies who are 3 months of age or older.
The drug allows you to develop immunity not only to the disease to which the article is devoted. This is a vaccine against meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis, inflammation of the epiglottis, various types of arthritis. And this is its advantage.
The vaccination scheme with this remedy is as follows:
- Under 6 months of age: 3 injections 1-2 months apart, with a booster dose 1 year after the third dose.
- Children 6 to 12 months old are given 2 injections 30 days apart, with an additional dose given at 18 months of age.
- Babies from 1 to 5 years old are given a single injection.
Opinions on Prevenar
This vaccine against pneumonia for children, reviews of which are very numerous, causes a lot of controversy and doubt. Some parents are confident that this is a completely safe vaccine, whichjust a must do for kids. Other mothers and fathers are not sure of its effectiveness. In addition, some believe that this drug, when used in relation to infants, is the cause of side effects and even death.
This vaccine against pneumonia also received different reviews from doctors. Some doctors attribute the positive results of vaccination, while others focus on some facts. For example, on the fact that Prevenar does not contain serotypes 1 and 5, which cause pneumococcal infections. Doctors also have doubts about this drug because in some countries, for example, in the Netherlands, this vaccine is temporarily banned.
The cost of Prevenar is about 2.5 thousand rubles.
Opinions about the drug "Pneumo 23"
This pneumonia vaccine for children receives mostly positive reviews. And this is not surprising: the drug "Pneumo 23" is the very first remedy invented by French doctors, and at the same time popular. After all, this vaccine is used in most European countries, which means a lot: it is really effective and safe. Parents note the fact that the vaccine is not very painful for babies, and the risk of complications is minimal. In addition, such a vaccine is cheaper than its analogue, the Prevenar drug. On average, the Pneumo 23 medication will cost parents 1.8 thousand rubles, which is 700 rubles cheaper.
Howeverdoctors are ambivalent about this vaccine. Some say that it is the safest of all existing ones. Others note the inappropriateness of its implementation, they say, this remedy can be prescribed to children only from 2 years old, it is impossible before. And since the peak of the danger of contracting pneumonia falls on the age of up to 24 months, then from this point of view the remedy is unsuitable. Therefore, some doctors advise parents to look at other drugs.
Opinions on the ACT-Hib vaccine
Parents' reviews about this tool are different. Some people are really excited about it, but there are quite a few moms and dads who write that this pneumonia shot causes unwanted reactions. Among such side effects: redness, soreness at the injection site, fever, drowsiness, irritability of the child. Those parents who speak positively about the vaccine note the fact that they themselves are now calm for their children, since the ACT-Hib drug protects not only from pneumonia, but also from other dangerous diseases, such as meningitis, sepsis and others..
The cost of a vial of this drug, containing 1 dose of the vaccine, is an average of 400 rubles.
Now you know that the pneumonia vaccine is the only way to protect yourself and your child from this dangerous disease. At the moment, there are 3 types of drugs that are used to vaccinate children and adults. And these are the means of "AKT-Hib", "Prevenar", "Pneumo 23". Most of all, judging by the reviews, people trust the latest drug - Pneumo 23, since itused in most European countries. Although the other two vaccines also have a lot of positive feedback. Therefore, it is difficult to make a choice, however, after consulting with a doctor, parents will undoubtedly purchase the drug that will protect their baby, and themselves, from such a serious illness as pneumonia.
