DTP: adverse reactions, effects of vaccinations. DTP: Pros and Cons

The question of the need for vaccinations for newborns in recent years is quite acute in modern society. Many parents decide to abandon such preventive measures, suggesting that vaccination poses a more serious threat to the health of the baby than potential diseases. Doctors warn that such decisions can have very negative consequences, including the recurrence of epidemics of long-forgotten diseases (for example, diphtheria) throughout the country. The greatest incitement is caused by such an inoculation as DTP. Adverse reactions to it occur quite often, which, of course, makes us think about the expediency of carrying it out. Let's try to understand how necessary this vaccine is to a child, what can threaten its carrying out or refusal from it.

What is a vaccine?

So, let's talk about what the DTP vaccine is. Children think that this is just an unpleasant injection, but parents should understand that such a vaccine is designed to provide protection from such terrible diseases as tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. All these problems are characterized by the severity of the course, the presence of a large number of complications for the child's organism and the difficulty of treatment.

The vaccine helps to form the necessary immunity, but does not give a full guarantee of the absence of the possibility of the disease. Despite this fact, the baby, who has caught the infection after a planned injection, transfers it in a lighter form (without complications), he recovers more quickly.

Classical reaction forms

If you decide to give a child DTP vaccine , the adverse reactions of the vaccine should be studied in the most careful way. Such information will help you decide on the need for vaccination, weigh all the pros and cons, and, if necessary, take appropriate measures to advance. The response of the body to the introduction of a foreign agent is conditionally divided into three main categories:

1. Minimal or weak form. It is characterized by a slight change in the behavior of the baby, mild discomfort (tearfulness, refusal to eat), an increase in body temperature to 37.5 degrees.
2. Moderate, or medium shape. It can manifest itself in a change in the child's habitual behavior, he becomes more apathetic or, on the contrary, nervous, often irritated without reason, asks for help. The kid refuses to eat, often cries, shows other signs of anxiety, body temperature often rises to 38.5 degrees.
3. Heavy form. It is accompanied by the symptoms indicated in the first and second cases. In addition, there is a strong fever (a temperature above 38.5 degrees), there may be convulsions, chills. A child experiences severe discomfort, often can not get out of bed.

Possible severe consequences of vaccination

Unfortunately, there are also more severe consequences of DTP vaccination. Adverse reactions in rare cases can be expressed in:

• Vomiting (occurs only in 2 vaccinated out of 100);
• Extremely high body temperature (from 39 degrees and above);
• Damage to the brain;
• Violation of physical or mental development;
• Coma;
• Allergic reaction (rash, hives, up to the swelling of Quincke).

Such manifestations are rare, most often in those cases when the vaccine was not made on time or in the presence of obvious contraindications to it.

Adverse reaction in the immediate place of injection

There are local consequences of DTP. Adverse reactions after vaccine administration may result in the appearance of a seal at the site of the injection. Most often, this zone is slightly swollen, the skin becomes reddish, pain begins to manifest, which gives the child the greatest inconvenience. The kid can not sleep, tries to touch the wound repeatedly, cries. Parents rarely pay attention to such a densification, but in the presence of these symptoms, the child should be given an antipyretic, which can also reduce pain.

Whooping cough

Many parents worry that after the DPT their child will become ill or will experience unpleasant sensations. Well, it is quite possible, but it is necessary to understand what is on the other side of the scale. What are you afraid of more: a phenomenon such as DTP (vaccination)? Temperature, pain, temporary whims? Or complications caused by one of the most terrible diseases that will spoil the baby's health for life?

So, let's talk about the diseases from which the vaccine is designed to protect your child. One of the most difficult of them is whooping cough. Its characteristic features are dry, frequent cough, a slight runny nose in the first few days of the illness, a slight increase in body temperature. Over time, pertussis progresses, coughing attacks become more frequent, accompanied by spasms and difficulty breathing. The peak of deterioration occurs on the 15-20 day from the onset of the disease. It is accepted to distinguish three basic forms of whooping cough:

1. Easy. The patient hardly feels any changes in his condition. About the disease resemble only the characteristic bouts of rare cough (no more than 15 times a day), they do not interfere with the child in a familiar life.
2. Average. The patient often has loss of appetite, insomnia. The child becomes apathetic, sluggish and slow. Appear rales in the lungs, there may be a fever, coughing more frequent and violent (up to 30 times a day).
3. Heavy. There is a high fever. The patient almost can not sleep and eat, becomes extremely irritable. Among the external signs, the paleness of the skin, the appearance of edema, are prominent. Coughing attacks can upset a baby up to 50 times a day, more often in the evening and at night, with a violation of respiratory function, bleeding and vomiting. There may be an involuntary urination.

In most cases, the disease ends in a safe cure, but in children up to one year, complications are often recorded. So, because of whooping cough, the development of pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage, even death are possible. As you can see, the reaction after DTP - condensation, heat and loss of appetite - is the lesser of possible evils.

Diphtheria

The second disease, from which the vaccine helps, is diphtheria. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, is characterized by severe intoxication of the body and the negative impact of infection on the nervous, vascular and cardiac systems. During the disease, symptoms such as swelling of the pharynx and larynx, an increase in lymph nodes are noted. In some cases, paralysis and disruption of the internal organs are possible, and deaths are often noted. Before mass vaccination, diphtheria was characterized by a large number of deaths. Treatment of the disease is carried out in an infectious disease hospital, the infected child is necessarily isolated. After DTP, you can be sure of reliable protection of the baby from diphtheria.

Tetanus

Tetanus is the third, but no less dangerous, disease that a child can avoid after DTP. Bacteria that cause such an ailment get into the baby's body through cuts and wounds, which he can get as a result of playing outdoors and indoors. Symptoms of tetanus include high fever, sweating, and muscle and face muscle spasms. Quite often there are various complications - it can be coma, death, respiratory paralysis. It is possible to prevent the disease by administering the vaccine. The consequences of vaccinations are a trifle compared to what the tetanus can lead to.

Contraindications conditional and absolute

When is it not recommended to get a DTP vaccine? Contraindications do exist. And they should be known. Some of them refer to indirect, others are considered absolute. So, the planned vaccination should be transferred in case of the following reasons:

1. Infection. If at this particular moment your child is sick, the planned event must be rescheduled. The time period for which the transfer is necessary depends on the severity of the illness and the doctor's recommendations.
2. Stress. If your baby is currently in a state of stress, experiences from any event very much, postpone the vaccination for several days.
3. Acute period of chronic disease. If your child suffers from any illness on a permanent basis, then the period of its aggravation is a signal to postpone the DPT vaccination for an indefinite period.

Some symptomatology is an unconditional contraindication to such vaccination. Usually such information is taken into account by the pediatrician, however parents should also own such data. First of all, they include:

• Diseases of the nervous system;
• Allergy to components that make up the vaccine;
• A negative reaction to previous vaccinations;
• Weak immunity, diseases affecting the immune system of the baby;
• whooping cough.

ADSM is an alternative to DPT

If you want to make a child a DTP vaccine, contraindications to which exist, try to make it easier, ADSM. So you protect the health of the child and reduce the risk of possible complications. A similar vaccine is used when the baby reaches the age of 4 years. This compound includes only two components, it is designed to withstand diphtheria and tetanus - the most dangerous diseases, which often lead to death. ADSM has much fewer side effects, by excluding the component responsible for protection against whooping cough. It often happens that the child is initially injected with DTP. Vaccination, temperature, severe allergies tell adults that re-injection of the same vaccine will be unsafe for the baby. In this case, the repeated vaccination is carried out without the pertussis component.

In what case should I see a doctor?

The child after DPT seems to you sluggish, tired and sick? Do not panic, but on some symptoms should pay close attention. So, you should consult a doctor if:

1. The temperature rises above 39 degrees, does not stray and is held for a very long time.
2. There is a prolonged or arisen with a delay of a febrile state.
3. Develops hypotension (rapid breathing, cyanosis of the skin). Such a state lasts, as a rule, no more than 6 hours.
4. There are pronounced nervous disorders.

If, after DPT, you notice a small seal, a moderate temperature and a child's tearfulness, this does not mean that you should sound an alarm and worry. As a rule, most side effects disappear in just one day, just watch the child and have patience. If you think that the baby's health is in danger, try to contact a specialist.

Preparatory stage before grafting

Prophylactic vaccinations are good in that they can be planned in advance, can be canceled if necessary, and also be prepared beforehand. Two days before the introduction of the vaccine, it is necessary to start taking antihistamine medications (protect the body from possible allergic reactions). Immediately after vaccination, without waiting for negative manifestations, the baby should be given an antipyretic. Watch for the behavior of the child and its temperature, if necessary, will need to use a repeated dose of the drug (especially important in the evening, before bedtime). Your further actions should be based on the following algorithm:

1. The first day after vaccination - from 1 to 3 antipyretic candles (morning-dinner-at night), antihistamine (once a day).
2. The second day - 1 antipyretic candle in the presence of temperature, in other cases, you should not take medication, antihistamines should be taken.
3. The third day - special treatment is not required, if the baby has a fever, you should call a doctor and determine the causes of the illness.

How to choose a medicine for temperature

DTP vaccination for children is often accompanied by unpleasant consequences. Do not be afraid of this, any reaction signals that there is a formation of immunity. To prevent possible complications, give the child an antipyretic agent, without waiting for symptoms of malaise. Many parents ask themselves the question: "How to choose the right means with which temperature is lost and pain to such small children decreases?" So, before buying a medicine, pay attention to the following characteristics:

1. The form of the drug should be adapted to the age of the baby (candles for up to a year, syrup for older children.) It should be remembered that candles are much less likely to provoke an allergic reaction).
2. Buy in advance. It must be given before the onset of disturbing reactions, otherwise there is a great chance that you will not be able to control them.
3. Do not use Aspirin to reduce the temperature of the baby.
4. Alternate medicines with different components, this will help you not exceed the permissible daily dose and achieve the desired effect.
5. Remember, it is possible that even if the first vaccination was easy, the second or third will cause unpleasant symptoms.

Please note: the temperature after DTP is usually kept for one day (maximum two days). Treatment with antipyretics is carried out for three days (the longest period). If you can not monitor the child's health, be sure to see a doctor.

Schedule of DTP vaccination

If you want to vaccinate children, the timetable for their conduct is very important. To form a stable immunity to the three named diseases, it is necessary to carry out the vaccination procedure four times. The classic scheme for the prevention of pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria involves the administration of doses in the following terms:

• First time - 3 months after birth;
• Second time - 45 days after the first procedure (that is, 4.5 months);
• Third time - 45 days after the second procedure (at 6 months);
• The fourth time is considered to be a revaccination, it is carried out one year after the third injection (approximately 18 months).

The most important for the formation of immunity are the last two vaccinations. When the baby grows up, he will have to go through several other similar events - at 6 and 14 years. If, for some reason, such vaccinations are not allowed for children, the vaccination schedule can be slightly shifted. Thus, repeated preventive injections are not carried out in case of a child's illness or the situation indicated in the list of contraindications. The duration of the transfer in each specific case is determined by the pediatrician who observes the child.

Vaccinations in school and kindergarten are often mandatory, sending a child to an educational institution, you should be ready to be asked to provide a vaccination card. Vaccination will help protect your child from pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria when in a fairly large children's team, that is, in a zone of potential danger.

Foreign DTP analogues

Prophylactic DTP vaccinations can be divided into several types, that is, domestic and foreign vaccines. Parents can decide for themselves what means to use to protect their child from possible diseases. The most popular recently is the Belgian "Infarics". There are three categories of vaccine for this brand:

• IPV (analogue of DTP and poliomyelitis);
• Preparation "Penta" (analogue of IPV and hepatitis B);
• "Hexa" means (analogue of the "Penta" preparation and hemophilic infection).

Among foreign preparations, the compositions "Pentaxim", "Tetraksim", "Hexavac" are distinguished. A wide range of different vaccines, as a rule, is found in paid medical centers. However, recently one can make a foreign injection in the district clinic.

If you are in doubt about the need for DPT vaccination, the pros and cons should be weighed very carefully and thoughtfully. Try to take in the first place the information that experts tell you, not friends and acquaintances. Remember, do not be afraid of such a phenomenon as the temperature after DTP: within reasonable limits, it is considered a variant of the normal reaction of the child's body and serves as a sign of the formation of strong immunity from whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria. Take the vaccination as closely as possible, this will help to maintain the health of your children.