Vaccination against diphtheria has been saving the lives of millions of people for 40 years. This reduced mortality by 90%. There is no better prevention of diphtheria than immunization. It starts at the age of three months, allowing you to develop an immune defense against diphtheria bacillus. Vaccination against diphtheria does not ensure the absence of disease, but neutralizes the toxin of the pathogen, which prevents the appearance of severe symptoms.
After infection with Leffler's bacillus, deterioration occurs due to the production of a toxin by the pathogen. Its action is aimed at the destruction of cells, as a result of which a fibrin film forms on the surface of the mucous membrane. The plaque gradually becomes dense, when trying to remove it, a bleeding surface remains. The next day, plaque reappears in the place of the removed film.
The diphtheria vaccine neutralizes the toxin, so no films form and organ dysfunction does not develop. The danger of plaque lies in the high risk of closing the lumen of the larynx with it, from which a person dies from suffocation.
Diphtheria can be suspected on the basis of the following clinical signs:
- plaque on the tonsils, tongue, palatine arch and pharyngeal wall, which eventually spread to the larynx and vocal cords;
- febrile hyperthermia;
- severe intoxication.
A harbinger of suffocation can be the appearance of a "barking" cough, hoarseness of the voice, which eventually turns into aphonia and a soundless cough. This occurs as a result of damage to the vocal cords, which lose motor ability. A person develops shortness of breath, heavy breathing, blue skin and retraction of the intercostal spaces when inhaling. When the film covers the lumen of the larynx, suffocation develops.
Prevention of diphtheria
Immunization is carried out for children according to the vaccination schedule and for adults for certain indications. The risk group for the vaccine should include:
- people living in the hostel;
- agricultural workers;
- builders;
- food workers;
- medical staff;
- students;
- military personnel;
- workers of children's institutions.
To prevent the spread of diphtheria, every year 
medical examinations are required to identify carriers of the diphtheria bacillus. Of particular importance is the dynamic observation of patients with angina, when plaque can also appear and intoxication can develop.
When diphtheria is suspected, an analysis should be done, material for which is collected from the surface of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx. With the help of bacteriological examination, the doctor has the opportunity to confirm or deny the infection.
Vaccination for children
Vaccination against diphtheria for children helps to protect them from death during the development of the disease. The first vaccination is done at 3 months, after which the immune system begins to develop protection against the disease. The vaccination is given in the manipulation room in compliance with all the rules. The vaccination schedule should be monitored by the district pediatrician in the polyclinic at the place of residence and remind parents during a routine examination of the child.
Parents should have a vaccination schedule at home and independently monitor the child's immunization by contacting the hospital in a timely manner.
If you want to get vaccinated in a private clinic, you can contact a medical clinic that provides such a service. Before the introduction of the vaccine, parents should closely monitor the activity, appetite of the child, and also measure the temperature. This will make it possible to suspect ARVI and avoid the development of complications of vaccination.
Due to the fact that the vaccine is combined, children are given one injection, which additionally protects against whooping cough and tetanus. Optimization of the vaccine manufacturing process can reduce the number of injections, relieve the child from stress and parents from anxiety.
The terms for vaccination against tetanus and diphtheria are the same, especially since they require the same conditions for production. What time is the immunization done?
- at 3 months;
- after 45 days;
- in six months;
- one and half year;
- 6-7 years old;
- 14-15 years old.
Revaccinations are necessary to maintain an adequate level of protection against disease. Where do you get the diphtheria vaccine? It is performed under the scapula, thigh or forearm area, intramuscularly. Older people are vaccinated subcutaneously. The effectiveness of the manipulation does not depend on the injection site. A less painful area of the body is selected.
Contraindications
In order not to have a difficult diphtheria course, the vaccination neutralizes the effect of the toxins of the pathogen. It is possible to achieve the maximum effect of vaccination and avoid complications, taking into account the following contraindications:
- severe intrauterine infection, congenital mutations;
- acute period of infection (ARVI, chickenpox);
- exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- premature birth of a child;
- insufficient weight of the child;
- allergic reactions, including to the previous administration of the vaccine;
- severe immunodeficiency states;
- autoimmune diseases (vasculitis, rheumatism);
- coagulopathy;
- pathology of the nervous system (uncontrolled epilepsy, meningitis);
- pregnancy up to 12 weeks.
The issue of immunization of a pregnant woman is considered individually with an obstetrician-gynecologist. Before giving an injection, a person undergoes a complete examination to identify contraindications.
Complications can appear in the post-vaccination period, if you do not follow the manipulation technique, asepsis and do not take into account the presence of contraindications. Systemic side effects can develop due to the production of antibodies by the immune system against its tissues, destroying them. The temporary failure is due to the introduction of the vaccine and the restructuring of the immune system.
In addition, do not forget that the body of each person is individual, so there is always a risk of an allergic reaction. When a child has been vaccinated with a partially inactivated toxin, there is a small risk of developing disease if the body is weakened. In this case, a 20-day quarantine is indicated. The probability of getting sick in vaccinated people from a sick person is small, however, in a poorly ventilated room with prolonged contact, it still exists.
Variety of vaccines
At what age should diphtheria prophylaxis begin, and what vaccinations are used for this? The introduction of diphtheria toxin in an inactivated form into the body makes it possible to develop resistance to it, therefore, when infected with Leffler's bacillus, films are not formed, and there is no risk of suffocation.
To maintain immunity, a dose of toxin is administered at the right time, thereby stimulating the synthesis of immune components.
Parents and pediatricians note the poor tolerance of DPT in children and the high incidence of complications. Because of this, other vaccines have recently been preferred.
You can vaccinate using:
- DTP. This type of vaccination is a combined type. It is able to provide immunity resistance against whooping cough, Leffler's bacillus and whooping cough in one injection. One of the varieties of DTP is considered to be ADS. The difference lies in the lack of protection against whooping cough. It is used for weakened children, with a pathology of the nervous system or frequent allergic reactions;
- Pentaxim makes it possible to provide the child's immune protection against tetanus, whooping cough, Leffler's bacillus, poliomyelitis and Haemophilus influenzae. It is transferred much easier by children, because it contains an inactivated toxin;
- Infanrix provides an immune barrier against tetanus, Leffler's bacillus and whooping cough. Well tolerated by children and has a minimum of adverse reactions;
- Infanrix-Hexa additionally includes components from hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae, and poliomyelitis. Parents note that children are well tolerated and there are no local or systemic complications.
Vaccination of adults
Should an adult be vaccinated against diphtheria? In adulthood, vaccination is carried out in three cases:
- if the vaccine has never been given;
- before leaving for places with an increased risk of infection;
- before employment in medical and educational institutions (if vaccination has never been carried out).
Diphtheria vaccination for adults is carried out every 10 years, provided that they have already been immunized.
Revaccination in most cases is carried out with ADS, which does not contain components against whooping cough. In adulthood, the risk of developing whooping cough is small, so this vaccine is preferred.
If a person has never been vaccinated against diphtheria, then there is a special scheme:
- initial introduction - any age;
- then - a month later;
- in a year;
- and every 10 years.
Before immunization, a person needs to be monitored for a cough, runny nose, fever, and rashes. This allows you to identify SARS at the initial stage. An additional examination may also be prescribed to identify contraindications.
Adverse Reactions
Note that vaccination against diphtheria in adults is safer and causes adverse reactions in exceptional cases. In children, the immune system is imperfect, therefore, more often you can notice such undesirable consequences as:
- hyperemia;
- swelling of the skin;
- itching;
- purulent infection - abscess;
- inflammation of the lymph nodes, blood vessels;
- keloid scar.
The general condition does not suffer much, malaise, fatigue, subfebrile hyperthermia and a slight decrease in appetite are possible. If the diphtheria vaccination was carried out for a cold, immunodeficiency or allergy, the risk of developing severe complications increases:
- bone destruction;
- joint inflammation;
- seizures;
- pathology of the nervous system;
- serum sickness;
- allergies in the form of anaphylactic shock (hypotension, heart palpitations, loss of consciousness, skin rash).
To reduce the risk of adverse reactions, you must carefully monitor your health. Complications are also possible in children. They are expressed in:
- disruption of the intestines in the form of diarrhea;
- increased sweating;
- itchy sensations;
- symptoms of dermatitis;
- inflammation of the middle ear section;
- redness of the pharyngeal wall, pain when swallowing;
- nasal congestion and rhinorrhea;
- the appearance of a cough.
If these symptoms appear, do not immediately regret the immunization or think that the diphtheria vaccine was of poor quality. Normally, such consequences are possible and disappear in 4-5 days. When the temperature exceeds 38 degrees, it does not go astray, there is severe weakness and pain at the injection site, you need to consult a doctor.
In the post-vaccination period, it is prohibited:
- contact with people with infection;
- drinking alcohol;
- visit crowded places, especially during a flu epidemic;
- eat exotic foods;
- abuse chocolate, citrus fruits, which most often cause an allergic reaction;
- take powerful antibiotics, cytostatics and hormonal agents in large doses;
- heavy physical activity;
- hot showers, washcloths, essential oils, or herbs.
You can moisten the injection site, but only with warm water.
If a person develops an allergy to herbs or essential oils, it is not clear if this is a reaction to the vaccine or the additives used when bathing.
A child without a vaccine is completely unprotected, so parents need to take this into account. Of course, it will not be possible to save the child from all infections, but it is quite possible from such a terrible disease as diphtheria.
