Hepatitis is a serious liver disease that can be transmitted from person to person. The disease can be chronic, some of its types provoke the development of cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer.
The disease has three types - A, B and C. Hepatitis A is better known as "jaundice". Forms B and C lead to the destruction of the liver, in addition, the course of the disease is often asymptomatic. There are vaccinations for hepatitis A and B. Hepatitis B vaccination must be done according to the vaccination schedule.
Vaccination against hepatitis A is done at will, most often such a need arises before traveling to regions where this infection is common. There is no vaccine yet for hepatitis C.
Hepatitis A
This is an acute infectious disease that can be contracted through food, water, household items,as well as direct contact with the patient. The disease is not dangerous, but without proper treatment, severe liver failure can occur, which can lead to coma and death.
At the onset of the disease, the patient develops nausea and vomiting, fever, pain and heaviness in the right hypochondrium. A little later, the skin and mucous membranes become yellow, the feces become discolored, the urine becomes dark.
A sick person is placed in an infectious diseases hospital for at least a month. Full recovery occurs within six months. Long recovery after illness, weakness, the need to adhere to a strict diet significantly reduce the quality of life.
Although hepatitis A vaccinations are not mandatory, they are the only effective way to protect against this disease.
Features of vaccination
Doctors recommend vaccinating children in cases where there is a risk of infection, for example, when there is a person with hepatitis A in the child's environment before traveling to hot countries. High risk of infection among medical personnel of infectious diseases departments, educators and staff of preschool institutions, catering and water supply workers.
Before traveling, the vaccine is given two weeks before departure so that the body has time to develop immunity. After contact with a sick person, the vaccination must be done within 10 days.
Before vaccinationdonate blood for analysis. If antibodies are found in it, then the child was vaccinated earlier or already had hepatitis. In this case, there can be no re-infection, since lifelong immunity remains.
Vaccinations against hepatitis A can be done after the child is one year old. The vaccine is administered intramuscularly, mainly in the shoulder. In order to develop stable immunity, it is necessary to repeat the vaccination after 6-18 months.
Vaccination reaction
Imported vaccine has no side effects. What can not be said about domestic drugs. Within a few days after vaccination against hepatitis A, the child may feel unwell, headaches, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal disorders, feelings of weakness and pain in the muscles, allergic reactions in the form of itching or urticaria are possible. The child can be moody and irritable.
There may be redness, swelling, slight pain, induration, itching at the injection site. It must be remembered that this area should not be lubricated with anything. If the child has a significant fever, you can give an antipyretic.
Such side effects are completely normal, pass quickly and do not affect the he alth of the baby. But in the event that such symptoms persist for a long time and cause concern, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician.
Contraindications
Vaccination against hepatitis A for children is done after examination by a pediatrician, which avoids possible complications. Vaccination is not carried out in case of individual intolerance to the components of the drug, with bronchialasthma, as well as in the acute period of any disease. The child must be completely he althy.
If these conditions are not adhered to, complications may occur. This may be Quincke's edema, the development of liver failure, lesions of the nervous system, the occurrence of malfunctions in the work of various organs and exacerbation of chronic diseases. Serious complications can lead to coma and death.
The main danger of hepatitis A is that a child can become a carrier of the infection even with a mild, asymptomatic course of the disease. And in the body of an adult, this disease is much more complicated, even a fatal outcome is possible. Therefore, vaccination against hepatitis A in children is the most effective way to prevent the disease.
Hepatitis B
Viral hepatitis B is a more dangerous disease. The virus causes severe liver damage, which can lead to cirrhosis and cancer. Therefore, treatment should be started as early as possible.
How infection occurs
The disease is transmitted sexually (with unprotected contact), through blood (injections, operations, blood transfusions, etc.). You can become infected by having a manicure in a salon, a tattoo or piercing with non-sterile instruments, on which particles of the blood of an infected person remain.
There are cases when a child became infected by accidentally pricking himself in a sandbox with a used syringe.
Strong immunity to the disease is developed after vaccination. Hepatitis B is highly contagious and vaccinationable to prevent the spread of the virus.
Symptoms
The disease can be acute or chronic. The acute form occurs some time after the infection has occurred. A person's temperature rises, he is shivering, nausea occurs, the skin becomes yellow. Within 6-8 weeks of therapy, a person can recover, while natural immunity is formed, otherwise the disease can become chronic, which can be either active or inactive.
In the active form, you will need to take antiviral drugs, the inactive form does not require treatment. But control over the course of the disease is still necessary.
The chronic form of the disease often progresses very slowly, with a low risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. An actively progressive disease in 20% of cases can lead to the development of these diseases, especially if a person abuses alcohol.
Chronic hepatitis B is much more dangerous. A sick person does not feel well, gets tired quickly, and cannot perform normal physical activity. Such signs are not always present, so many take them lightly. Sometimes a person may experience nausea, pain in the upper abdomen, in muscles and joints, and stool disorders.
In the later stages, jaundice appears, urine darkens, gums bleed, liver and spleen enlarge, weight decreases.
Since it is very difficult to assess the nature of the disease on your own, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. And the best waydisease prevention, both in adults and in children is vaccination.
Hepatitis B vaccine for children
Parents are interested in the question: "How many hepatitis vaccines does a child have?"Hepatitis B vaccine is given immediately after the birth of the baby, intramuscularly in the shoulder. It is necessary because even at this age, small children can easily catch the virus. Infection is possible during childbirth from the mother or through close contact with other people.
Re-vaccinated against hepatitis at one month and six months. This scheme allows you to maintain immunity for twenty years.
Vaccination of adults
Vaccination against hepatitis B is given to adults under 55 years of age who have never been ill and have not been vaccinated.
If there was contact with an infection or an operation with a blood transfusion is due, vaccination is carried out according to an accelerated scheme. The risk group for infection with hepatitis includes he alth workers, drug addicts, people who are promiscuous or are donors. Therefore, these people need to be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
If a previously vaccinated person had contact with the infection, it is necessary to determine the level of protective antibodies in the blood. Based on the obtained indicators, the issue of the advisability of additional vaccination is being decided.
Vaccination schedules
How many hepatitis B vaccines are given and in what schedule? There are three vaccination schedules:
- Standard (0-1-6) –the second injection is done a month after the first, the third - after six months. This method of vaccination is the most effective.
- Accelerated (0-1-2-12) - the second vaccination is given one month after the first. The third - in two, the fourth - in twelve months. Use this method when the possibility of infection is increased.
- Emergency (0-7-21-12). In this case, the second injection is given seven days after the first, the third - twenty-one days later, the fourth - a year later. This method is used if you need to quickly develop immunity.
Hepatitis B vaccination for adults is available at any time, but the vaccination schedule must be followed. If the second injection was missed for any reason, the regimen is restarted. When the third vaccination is missed, the vaccination is carried out according to the 0-2 scheme: two months after the first, a second injection is given, which will be the end of the course. A single injection provides immunity for a short time.
Side effects
Although the hepatitis B vaccine is considered one of the safest, reactions to some of the vaccine's ingredients may occur.
Side effects include swelling, redness, pain at the injection site, fever. Severe complications are very rare. Among them are headache, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, myalgia, arthralgia.
Contraindications
Vaccination should not be done at elevated temperatures, during the period of illness. In addition, it is necessaryconsider that vaccination can provoke an allergic reaction. Therefore, if a person has an allergy to nutritional yeast or other components of the product, it is necessary to notify the doctor in advance.
Whether or not to get vaccinated against hepatitis is a personal matter for everyone. But do not forget that the earlier a child was vaccinated, the less likely it is to contract hepatitis, which has a very negative impact on the quality and life expectancy.
