Diphtheria and tetanus are two dangerous diseases with completely different sources of infection, but vaccination is often carried out with one combination drug. It contains both diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, which cause the development of strong immunity in a vaccinated individual against diphtheria and tetanus. The vaccine is included in the list of mandatory due to serious consequences, often life-threatening. However, these diseases are extremely rare due to ongoing immunization of the population for many decades. For this reason, some people neglect prevention.
Do I need to be vaccinated against dangerous infections - diphtheria and tetanus?
There is no consensus on this. Most qualified specialists believe that it is necessary to vaccinate against these dangerous infections. But adherentsnaturalistic theory argue that the human immune system itself is able to cope with infections. Should I be vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus? The right to decide is given to the parents of the child or the patient himself, who has reached adulthood. Thanks to long-term immunization of the population, most people have antibodies to these infections, which prevents the occurrence of epidemics.
What are the dangers of diphtheria and tetanus?
Tetanus, caused by the bacterium tetanus bacillus, which lives in soil, manure and feces, is not a contagious disease. Infection occurs when the pathogen enters through damage to the epidermis and mucous tissues, with the formation of wounds, abrasions, frostbite and burns. The more affected the surface of the tissues, the greater the likelihood of disease. The causative agent, getting under the dermis, releases toxins that affect the nervous system. As a result, severe convulsions appear, leading to paralysis of the respiratory organs and the heart muscle, and death occurs.
Diphtheria is considered a serious infectious disease caused by a bacterium - diphtheria bacillus, which is transmitted by airborne droplets. The causative agent of diphtheria releases toxic substances that affect the oropharynx and bronchi. In this case, the respiratory tract is disrupted, stenosis of the larynx occurs, which rather quickly, within a quarter of an hour, progresses to asphyxia. Without immediate medical attention, death from suffocation is possible. The only way to prevent these diseasesimmunization against diphtheria and tetanus is recognized.
Vaccination frequency
In order to form a strong immunity against dangerous diseases - tetanus and diphtheria, vaccination is carried out throughout the life of an individual according to the following scheme:
- starting at three months, three shots every 45 days;
- 18 months;
- 6-7 years old;
- 14-15 years old.
Only with such a frequency of vaccinations, stable immunity is formed. If the vaccination schedule is violated for any reason, the child is vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus at the age of 7 using a weakened ADS-M toxoid twice with an interval of a month, then the first revaccination is carried out after 6-9 months, after 5 years - the second, and further - every 10 years. Individuals should monitor the regularity of vaccinations themselves. However, when applying for a job in some speci alties associated with the threat of diphtheria or tetanus, business leaders require information about the availability of vaccination against these diseases. If more than ten years have passed since the last immunization, then three injections must be given, similar to how three-month-old babies are vaccinated.
Vaccination contraindications
All contraindications are divided into two large groups:
- Relative - any disease that causes a decrease in immunity, fever, low weight of the child, a recent course of antibiotic treatment, an allergic disease in the acute stage, the firsttrimester of pregnancy. In this case, the vaccination is postponed until all he alth problems have been resolved.
- Absolute - immunodeficiency of any type, severe allergic reactions of the body to some component of the vaccine. In the first case, immunization is refused, in the second, the vaccine is replaced with an analogue similar in effect, but without live cultures. For example, the standard diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus vaccine is being replaced with a lightweight DTP that does not contain the components of the pertussis virus that often cause adverse reactions.
How to reduce side effects?
To reduce negative effects after vaccination, doctors recommend:
- Reduce food intake for three days, starting the day before vaccination. To do this, reduce the concentration and volume of food.
- Give your baby more liquid these days.
- For skin rashes a few days before the procedure, the child is given antihistamines.
- You shouldn't sit in line with your child at the treatment room for a long time, it's better to spend some time with him on the street.
- For prevention after vaccination, it is allowed to take "Paracetamol". Increased temperature does not affect the development of immunity in any way, so it can be knocked down.
Following these simple recommendations will help your child to transfer the vaccine more easily. And according to the guidelines, there are few contraindications to vaccination. Mild signs of a cold, slight diathesis, a slight runny nose are not reasons for not vaccinating.
Negative reactions aftervaccinations
Sometimes negative symptoms occur after vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus, although most children tolerate the vaccination without any problems. There may be a local reaction in the injection area and minor changes in the child's condition:
- skin redness;
- small swelling around injection site;
- subcutaneous seal;
- pain;
- increased body temperature;
- sweating;
- malaise;
- appearance of a runny nose;
- occurrence of cough;
- itch.
Parents should not worry, all problems will go away on their own in 3 days. To relieve the symptoms that have arisen, it is better to consult a doctor. In very rare cases, after vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus, consequences are observed in the form of severe complications: convulsions, prolonged, continuous crying, encephalopathy, loss of consciousness. In such situations, an ambulance should be called urgently. Sometimes there are allergic reactions: anaphylactic shock or Quincke's edema, which appears immediately after the administration of the drug, so it is not recommended to leave the clinic for 20-30 minutes. It should be noted that serious consequences arise mainly when the rules for preparing for vaccination are not followed or recommendations are not followed during the recovery period.
Vaccines containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids
Vaccination sera containing tetanus and diphtheria toxoids are produced by domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies. There are drugs likemulticomponent, and monovaccines. Free vaccination in Russia for children and adults is carried out with domestic drugs:
- DTP - vaccination against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus. It is intended for children up to one and a half years. Three vaccinations and one booster are needed to develop immunity.
- ADS - the vaccine consists of diphtheria and tetanus toxoid, but does not contain the pertussis component. It is prescribed to children after the age of six for revaccination against diphtheria and tetanus. It is also used for babies up to two years old, if after the first vaccination allergic reactions to whooping cough toxoid were revealed.
- ADS-M - differs from ADS by a lower content of antigens.
- AC or AD - monopreparations containing one component of tetanus or diphtheria. Such vaccinations are given to those who develop intolerance to another component that is part of a multicomponent vaccine. The AD drug is convenient to use in the event of an epidemic of diphtheria, and the AC is useful in case of suspected infection with tetanus bacillus.
In the absence of any contraindications, it is always better to get a multicomponent vaccine, in this case, vaccinate against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.
Injection site for children and adults
Introduced substance to have an effect on the body must enter the bloodstream. This happens most quickly in muscle tissue, where there is no layer of fat. Therefore, babies and adults are given the vaccine intramuscularly:
- In young children the most developedthe muscle is the thigh, and the drug is injected into it. With a properly made injection, the baby does not have a lump and a strong seal. This is possible just when the serum is injected into the fat layer, where it dissolves for a long time and causes discomfort in the child.
- At the age of six, the injection is given in the shoulder or under the shoulder blade, depending on the physical condition of the baby.
- Adults are vaccinated in the area of the shoulder blade or shoulder.
It should be recalled that the injection site should not be combed and rubbed to avoid unwanted reactions: redness, thickening and suppuration.
Vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus for adults
Most people who are vaccinated as children believe that they are protected from infections for life and should not care about vaccination. In fact, there is a revaccination system that supports the body's defenses. And according to the national vaccination schedule for the adult population against diphtheria and tetanus, as well as for children, immunization is provided. In adulthood, the first vaccination is given at the age of 26. Thereafter, revaccination is required every 10 years. If an adult was not vaccinated, then he is given two vaccinations with an interval of 45 days and a single revaccination 6–9 months after the second vaccination, and then every 10 years. The injection is made with ADS-M - a vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus. Adults (whooping cough is much more severe and with a large number of complications occurs in young children) whooping cough toxoid is not administered. But some experts argue that vaccination against this disease in adultspeople want to do the same. To do this, you can use imported drugs containing additionally purified pertussis components to reduce adverse reactions.
There are specific guidelines for a number of professions that involve exposure to infection, in which there is a risk of infection. For example, workers in forestry and agriculture, the military, railway workers, medical workers must be vaccinated. Information about immunization is recorded in the sanitary book by a medical worker. Before vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus, adults undergo a medical examination to determine contraindications, which are not so many in ADS-M. These include: immunodeficiency, an allergic reaction to the components of the drug. The injection may be delayed due to the patient's illness until his recovery or canceled altogether if there are contraindications. Do not vaccinate pregnant women, so as not to harm the development of future crumbs. After vaccination in adults, as in children, mild ailments are possible, which pass on their own. In case of serious complications, you should consult a doctor.
What to do if you miss a shot?
The Diphtheria, Whooping Cough and Tetanus Immunization Schedule has developed the ideal vaccination plan to ensure that the child receives protection against viruses at the optimum time and with the least risk of side effects. And this schedule must be followed. But various circumstances happen in life: long-term illnesses, trips or some other situations, andviolation of the vaccination plan. You can start vaccinating your baby with the DTP vaccine at any time up to 4 years of age. In our country, after the child is 4 years old, it is forbidden to use domestic vaccines containing the whooping cough component. Therefore, after this milestone, the child is vaccinated with an analogue of DTP, the French drug "Tetracocom" - this is a vaccination against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and polio.
Starting from 4 to 6 years of age, use the ADS vaccine, and then the ADS-M vaccine. Both preparations do not contain a pertussis component. If the deadline for the second DTP vaccination is missed, the vaccination regimen is continued in the same order as without violating the schedule. In the event that the third DTP vaccination is missed, it is done without paying attention to the pass.
French Pentaxim vaccine
Can the imported Pentaxim vaccine replace DTP? Leading experts in this field answer in the affirmative. The only thing to note is that vaccination with imported drugs is carried out for a fee. Pentaxim is not a complete analogue of DTP. As it was previously found out, the domestic vaccine protects babies from three infections, and the imported drug is much more effective, and it protects the baby with one vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, as well as whooping cough and Haemophilus influenzae.
Moreover, protection against whooping cough is very important for a small child, and when vaccinated with DTP, it is precisely this component that most often causes a negative reaction in babies. And therefore, children are often vaccinated with ADS and ADS-M vaccines that do not containpertussis toxoid. In the Pentaxim preparation, the whooping cough component is split, and it does not contain a shell. As a result, it is much better tolerated by children. In addition, when using it, the number of vaccinations is reduced, which is essential for the baby.
Conclusion
Adults and children should be vaccinated against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. The danger of contracting these serious diseases is real. It should not be forgotten that some serious illnesses do not appear due to the high immunization of the population in the past. Now, when there are voluntary refusals of vaccinations, some of them are returning again. Remember, the risk of complications from diseases is much higher than from vaccination.
