Vaccination against diphtheria has already been carried out for 40 years, which has reduced the incidence by 90%. Immunization does not completely protect from the disease, but it greatly facilitates its course. Having been vaccinated, you can be sure that death from diphtheria can only be threatened as a last resort. To achieve the desired effect of the vaccine, some guidelines must be followed. If vaccination is the task of a nurse, then the further period is on the person's conscience. One of the questions that worries vaccinated people is whether it is possible to wash after a diphtheria vaccination.
The disease is an infection that causes severe symptoms that can be fatal. Without the timely administration of anti-diphtheria serum, there is no hope for success in treatment and recovery. Diphtheria vaccinations save the lives of millions.
The vaccine is made from a weakened toxin, so it cannot cause illness. Of course, there is minimal risk, but this only applies to weakened children. Vaccination before admission to a hospital undergoes a series of tests in laboratory conditions. To avoid complications of vaccination, you need to take into account contraindications and, if necessary, temporarily postpone vaccination.
The diphtheria vaccine does not act directly on the pathogen, but neutralizes the effect of the toxin. As a result, intoxication does not develop, and symptoms of the disease do not appear.
After the introduction of a weakened toxin into the body, immunity develops resistance, therefore, when infected with a diphtheria bacillus, the disease is not terrible for a person.
Why should you get vaccinated?
Recently, you can hear a lot of controversy about whether immunization is needed or not. To finally make sure that a diphtheria vaccine is needed, it is enough to remember how the disease manifests itself in an unvaccinated organism.
If parents, at least once saw how a child dies from suffocation with diphtheria, they would not hesitate with the choice before vaccination. To make the right choice, you need to drop all emotions and calmly make out all the pros and cons of vaccination.
When the body is infected with a diphtheria bacillus, unvaccinated immunity is not able to fight the disease. Among the clinical symptoms should be highlighted:
- severe fever (hectic hyperthermia);
- malaise, rapid fatigue;
- decreased immunity;
- headache;
- raids on the oropharynx.
Films on the tonsils, uvula, palatine arch and pharyngeal wall become dense and difficult to remove from the mucosa. If you try to remove plaque yourself, a bleeding surface remains. Moreover, the next day the films reappear.
If the vaccine is not administered in time, the disease progresses, and the films cover the mucous membrane of the larynx and trachea. When plaque begins to spread over the surface of the airways, shortness of breath appears, breathing becomes difficult, and a blue skin tone appears. Visually, you can notice the retraction of the intercostal spaces during inhalation. Over time, suffocation develops due to the fact that the films block the lumen of the larynx.
In children, suffocation develops faster than in adults, since their airways have a smaller lumen.
The deterioration of the condition can come so sharply that they may not have time to provide help. To prevent asphyxiation, you need to carefully monitor your breathing. First, there is a "barking" cough, hoarseness of the voice, after which the cough becomes silent, and the person loses the ability to talk. This is due to damage to the vocal cords and impaired mobility.
If a person is in a hospital, a tracheostomy may be performed urgently.
Where and when is the vaccine administered?
The diphtheria vaccine can be done in different areas of the body:
- for children - in the forearm area, under the shoulder blade or in the thigh area. The injection is given intramuscularly;
- adults are injected subcutaneously.
Vaccination begins at the age of three months, when the first injection of diphtheria toxin is carried out. Further immunization schedule:
- it is introduced two more times with an interval of 45 days;
- then - at 18 months;
- at 6-7 years old;
- at the age of 14.
There is another grafting scheme. It is used for people who were not vaccinated as children:
- first introduction - any age;
- the second - a month later;
- the third - a year later;
- further - every 10 years.
This scheme is suitable for people without contraindications. Usually, adults apply for vaccination before traveling abroad and in places with an increased risk of infection. In addition, the diphtheria vaccine is performed:
- agricultural workers;
- students;
- construction workers;
- military personnel;
- employees of medical institutions;
- railway workers;
- livestock workers;
- employees of educational institutions.
Types of vaccines
The diphtheria vaccine has several options:
- DTP is used for children to develop immune protection against diphtheria bacillus, whooping cough, and tetanus;
- ADS (if there are contraindications for the administration of pertussis vaccine). This is a combination tetanus and diphtheria bacillus vaccine. It is used for primary immunization or repeated administrations. It is indicated for children over 4 years old, since whooping cough is practically not dangerous for them, but diphtheria and tetanus can develop at any time;
- ADS-M.
The combination of vaccinations against diphtheria and tetanus is justified, because they are produced using practically the same technology. In addition, they have the same immunization schedule, so the child can be given one injection instead of two. This will help keep the child from hysteria and the parents from stress.
Prevention of diphtheria begins almost from birth, more precisely from 3 months. This makes it possible to protect the child from severe disease and death. Even if it becomes infected, films do not form and do not close the lumen of the larynx. In addition, the secreted toxin does not affect the internal organs.
Revaccination is necessary to maintain adequate immune defenses. Nowadays, in addition to DTP, you can be vaccinated with other vaccines:
- Pentaxim enables the immune system to develop protection against poliomyelitis, diphtheria bacillus, whooping cough, haemophilus influenzae, and tetanus. Infection with Haemophilus influenzae leads to damage to the nervous system and the development of meningitis. Parents noticed that this vaccine is well tolerated in comparison with DPT, because it contains an inactivated toxin that cannot cause illness;
- Infanrix consists of components that provide protection against tetanus, diphtheria bacillus, and whooping cough. The vaccine is also well tolerated and does not cause adverse reactions;
- Infarix-Hexa additionally protects against Haemophilus influenzae (the causative agent of meningitis), poliomyelitis, and hepatitis B. The vaccine does not cause complications and is well tolerated by children.
So that parents do not forget about vaccination, the pediatrician at the polyclinic at the place of residence should remind about immunization when the child is brought in for a routine examination. The injection is carried out in the manipulation room by a nurse. If they want to get vaccinated in a private clinic, parents can easily seek help from a medical center where vaccination services are provided.
Every parent is encouraged to have a vaccination schedule in order to independently monitor and seek help in a timely manner.
Contraindications
Immunization should be given during periods when the child is in good health.It is recommended to temporarily postpone the manipulation when:
- the acute phase of colds and other infectious pathologies (chickenpox, measles);
- fever of unknown origin;
allergic reactions during the peak period (diathesis, eczema);- pregnancy;
- intrauterine infections, congenital mutations;
- prematurity;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- uncontrolled bronchial asthma;
- severe immunodeficiency.
allergic reactions during the peak period (diathesis, eczema);Immunization against diphtheria is absolutely contraindicated if an allergy developed to the previous vaccine administration, with severe coagulopathy, concomitant neurological (meningitis, epilepsy), autoimmune (vasculitis, lupus), pathology
As for pregnancy, immunization in most cases is not carried out, but if absolutely necessary and in agreement with the obstetrician-gynecologist, it can be performed. The only limitation is up to 12 weeks, when the embryo's organs are laid.
If the vaccine is given for colds, alcohol intoxication, or allergies, the body's response to the vaccine may be unpredictable.
Complications appear due to the production of antibodies by the immune system against its own tissues. This can be observed with a temporary restructuring of immunity after immunization. The vaccine is administered to the child only with the permission of the parents, so it is necessary to understand how important the vaccine is.
If the child is weakened or manipulated by a weakened toxin, there is a small risk of illness and the child may be quarantined. The vaccinated body reacts less violently to the toxin when infected with a diphtheria bacillus, so the disease is much easier. Infection in this case is possible with prolonged close contact with a sick person in a poorly ventilated room.
Features of the post-vaccination period
Can the diphtheria vaccine be wetted? This question worries many people.
We are accustomed to the fact that when carrying out Mantoux, it is forbidden to wet the injection site for several days and try to protect other vaccinations from getting wet. However, this is not entirely correct.
In the case of vaccination against diphtheria, there are no restrictions on taking a shower, it is allowed to swim, only observing some rules:
- you can not use a washcloth so as not to exert friction at the injection site;
- hot showers and baths are prohibited;
- it is not recommended to use sea salt, herbs and essential oils in the form of additives in bathing water.
Using oils or herbs can cause allergic reactions, itching and redness. Then it will not be clear whether this is a reaction of the body to the vaccine or a consequence of taking a bath.
After immunization, the person's immune system is slightly compromised and does not provide sufficient protection against infection. In the early post-vaccination period, the following recommendations should be adhered to:
- do not contact people with infectious pathology;
- avoid crowds of people, especially during the period of the flu epidemic;
- do not eat exotic fruits;
- do not abuse chocolate, citrus fruits, which most often cause allergies;
- avoid contact with allergens that previously caused allergies in humans;
- keep the injection site clean, as well as personal hygiene;
- you should not take strong antibacterial, hormonal and chemotherapeutic agents in the first weeks after vaccination. This can significantly reduce the body's immune defenses;
- heavy physical activity is prohibited during the first 7 days;
- you can not drink alcoholic beverages in the next three days after immunization.
Adverse reactions and complications
It is impossible to predict the body's reaction to immunization, since each person is individual. There is always a risk of developing adverse reactions, especially of an allergic nature, but you should not be afraid of them. To minimize the risk of their appearance, it is necessary to monitor the child's activity, his appetite and measure the temperature 3 days before vaccination. This will allow you to suspect the development of a cold or exclude it, because immunization is carried out on a healthy body.
In the first days after vaccination, it is possible:
- general malaise, drowsiness, decreased appetite, moodiness;
- soreness, redness, itching and slight swelling of the injection site;
- low subfebrile condition, which can be fought with abundant drinking, Nurofen or Efferalgan in the form of suppositories.
These symptoms usually disappear after 4-5 days, but with high fever or the presence of these signs for more than a week, you should consult your doctor.
Vaccination against diphtheria is one of the safest, because side reactions are extremely rare. Children may also have bowel problems such as diarrhea, cough, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, increased sweating, dermatitis, redness of the throat, and otitis media.
During the entire existence of this vaccine, not a single case of anaphylactic shock and severe neurological disorders has been reported.
The risk of developing allergies increases significantly if the vaccine is administered against the background of diathesis or eczema in children.
Of course, only parents can decide whether to allow the child to be vaccinated or not, but they need to remember what serious complications of diphtheria are. If the vaccine is refused, the parents take responsibility for the child's life if he is infected with Leffler's bacillus. And no one will give a guarantee that the child will have time to provide medical care at the height of the disease.
