Today, allergies are a fairly common occurrence in pediatric practice. Often, such pathological conditions occur after routine vaccination and are a variant of the child’s body’s reaction to the introduction of foreign material.
To facilitate the tolerability of vaccine solutions before and after vaccinations, children are advised to take antihistamines to minimize the risk of post-vaccination complications.
Most pediatricians do not expect the development of side effects from vaccination, but recommend immediately giving children antiallergic medications, in particular, such an effective medication as Fenistil. Therefore, it is important for parents to know how to give Fenistil, and when is it better to stop taking it?
What is Fenistil used for?
Vaccinations intended for newborns are often accompanied by severe allergic reactions that are dangerous to the child's body. Even the most experienced doctor cannot guarantee that your child does not have this predisposition.
In order to avoid possible consequences, an antihistamine is prescribed. Medicine should not be given to a child without consulting a doctor. The doctor sets the following indicators:
- dose of the drug;
- time of receipt;
- duration.
Most often, antihistamines are prescribed before vaccination for children who experience the following allergic reactions:
- Rashes on the body in the form of urticaria and whooping cough dermatitis.
- Dermatitis or eczema as a response to an injection or vaccination.
- Reaction to food and medications.
- Allergic rhinitis.
- After vaccination, redness and itching appear.
If the child does not have such manifestations, then he does not need Fenistil drops. If there is a reaction: the doctor will prescribe a drug to relieve allergy symptoms. Since Fenistil acts on the symptoms that arise after vaccination, it must be taken after vaccination.
Is it necessary and why to give Fenistil after DPT vaccination?
DTP is one of the most controversial vaccines, which is famous for its side effects. The pertussis component of the immune preparation is reactogenic and is recognized as the main culprit in the development of post-vaccination complications, which sometimes pose a danger to children’s lives. That is why pediatricians strongly recommend that parents take vaccination seriously and take action to prevent possible adverse reactions after vaccination.
Often, before and after vaccination, experts prescribe Fenistil drops to children, justifying their decision with their ability to protect the child’s body from complications of the procedure.
The drug is an effective antihistamine that helps prevent various types of hypersensitivity reactions in the child’s body to the introduction of foreign biological material.
According to research, this medicine several times reduces the risk of developing allergies after injection of a combined immune solution and reduces the severity of symptoms of the pathological condition.
Leading experts from the World Health Organization warn that taking antihistamines, which include Fenistil, before vaccination, can become an additional irritant for the baby’s fragile body and provoke the occurrence of post-vaccination pathological conditions.
Doctors insist on using the products only if the child has a predisposition to allergies or has had bad experience with previous vaccinations. Without suspicion of a hyperreactive immune response, it is better not to give Fenistil.
After vaccination, parents should be attentive to the health of their baby and resort to using the drug only after the development of characteristic symptoms of disorders and consultation with a doctor.
Preparing for vaccination
Before vaccination, each child is examined by a doctor for the presence of diseases. The injection will not be given if the baby is weakened, has a fever, snot flowing, or has a cough. The doctor pays special attention to babies from three to six months. It is during this period that DPT vaccination should be carried out in three stages. Vaccination will help in the future to resist such serious diseases as:
- diphtheria;
- whooping cough;
- tetanus.
A proper approach to vaccination will protect against negative consequences after vaccination. What do I need to do? Take blood and urine tests, be examined by a pediatrician and other doctors (if necessary), give Fenistil as prescribed by the pediatrician. During an epidemic, vaccination cannot be done. Hot and cold weather is also contraindicated. These three points will guarantee against the body’s adverse reaction to the vaccine.
What is Fenistil
The drug Fenistil is an antihistamine produced by the Swiss company Novartis Consumer Health SA. The medication is considered safe and therefore is used even in the case of treatment of newborns.
The medicine eliminates the symptoms of allergies, but is not able to eliminate the causes of its occurrence.
By using it you can get rid of the following problems:
- rhinitis;
- hay fever;
- eczema;
- hives;
- dermatitis.
The active component of the drug is dimethindene maleate. It has a sedative and antiallergic effect, and also relieves itching. This substance can reduce the permeability of capillaries and contribute to a sharp decrease in the severity of symptoms.
Is it worth taking it?
To prevent side effects such as rash or hives after vaccination, the child remains cheerful and healthy, the drug Fenistil is prescribed. We previously used Suprastin, but it causes more adverse reactions in a fragile body. Therefore, doctors abandoned it in favor of Fenistil for DTP vaccination.
But if the child does not have allergies, parents usually refuse antihistamine therapy. Pediatricians play it safe and prescribe medicine to everyone without exception. Therefore, the mother herself needs to weigh the pros and cons; if in doubt, you can consult another doctor for advice. But unless absolutely necessary, it is better to refuse the drug.
Possible complications and reactions
Fenistil is a first generation antihistamine. Unless absolutely necessary, it is better to do without it. Possible side symptoms:
- nausea;
- dizziness;
- dry mucous membranes;
- a sharp drop in pressure;
- tachycardia;
- fever;
- convulsions;
- increased excitability;
- allergic reactions.
Most often, the listed symptoms are observed with an overdose, so the dose must be strictly monitored. To alleviate the baby’s condition, the doctor will tell you what to do and what medications to use.
Even if parents are literate in medical matters, they should not prescribe medications to their child on their own. Especially when it comes to antihistamines, because with all their positive effects in the fight against an allergic reaction to vaccination, the risk of developing negative reactions is very high.
It is better to minimize the use of any medications in young patients. Fenistil before DPT should be used only when there are good reasons, and not to deal with non-existent problems. You should definitely consult a pediatrician, then the vaccination will take place without consequences and will bring the expected effect.
In what form is the medicine available?
For ease of use, the manufacturer produces an antihistamine in three forms:
- Drops for oral use for newborns from 1 month.
- Capsules for oral use for children over 12 years of age.
- Gel for external use for symptomatic treatment.
The doctor decides which form to use after an examination. Choosing a drug on your own is dangerous for the baby’s health. The most convenient form for infants is drops. Once in the body, they block histamine receptors, which cause unwanted reactions. Thus, itching and redness disappear. The drops are colorless and odorless, they taste sweet, so the child will not feel disgust when taking them.
For a baby, drops can be added to breast milk or a formula bottle. But it is important not to heat it, because when heated, the healing properties will disappear.
Price and analogues
The cost of Fenistil in pharmacies in our country depends on the region of distribution of the drug and the pricing policy of each individual seller.
As a rule, the cost of a gel for external use is currently approximately 300-450 rubles. per tube, while drops cost about 400 rubles.
If necessary, the doctor may advise replacing Fenistil with another analogue from the group of antihistamines.
Starting from the first month, children can be given Suprastin, but this drug is available in tablets, which makes it difficult to take. Starting from 12 months, babies can be prescribed the effective drug Zodak, which has a rapid and pronounced anti-allergic effect.
In case of urgent need to eliminate the local consequences of vaccination, pediatricians advise using hormonal ointments for external use, in particular, 1% hydrocortisone ointment.
How to take Fenistil?
The dosage of the medicine is calculated individually; the calculation is made by the pediatrician based on the baby’s height and weight. The individual characteristics of the body are also taken into account. Parents need to learn about possible reactions to the active substance on the part of the child’s body in order to be prepared for this. Often the reaction manifests itself in:
- gastrointestinal disorders - nausea;
- the occurrence of dizziness;
- dry throat and sinuses;
- temperature increase;
- lowering blood pressure;
- dilation of the eye pupils.
All of the listed side symptoms appear in children with an overdose of the drug. Incorrect calculations will cause damage to a small organism. If one or more signs are detected, the baby should be given activated charcoal to drink. When using any medicine, you should consult your doctor and read the instructions for use.
Many mothers wonder: how many drops per day should a child be given? The instructions for use state that the medicine is given to babies in the form of drops:
- From 1 month to a year in a single dosage of 3-10 drops three times a day.
- From one to three years, 10–15 drops three times a day.
- From 3 to 12 years, 15–20 drops three times a day.
20 drops of Fenistil contain 1 milligram of dimethindene.
After taking the drug, you do not need to drink water. Usually the medicine is prescribed 5 days before vaccination and 3-5 days after it. In this way, the body will resist allergic reactions caused by the vaccine. But this is an approximate dosage regimen; doctors give individual recommendations after examination.
How to give Fenistil before DTP vaccination: instructions for use
Fenistil is available in the form of drops, capsules and gel.
The first two forms are used orally, and the last - externally. It is recommended to give the solution to babies under one year of age. It is allowed to be used from one month of age. The liquid is colorless and odorless.
The drug is sold in a 20 ml glass bottle. The built-in dropper provides more convenient and accurate dosing.
The main substance of Fenistil is dimethindene maleate. The medicine also contains propylene glycol, citric acid monohydrate, sodium saccharinate, and purified water.
In case of weak immunity or severe allergies to medications, Fenistil is indicated to be given five days before the administration of DPT. In case of one-time rashes, the drug is used on the eve of immunoprophylaxis.
Any medicine in overdose can cause side effects and complications. Therefore, it is important to understand how much and for how long to give your baby Fenistil.
How many drops should I give to my baby?
The exact dosage for an infant should be determined by a doctor. The pediatrician determines the amount of medication based on the age and weight of the baby.
As a rule, for children under one year of age, the optimal dose is 2-4 drops three times a day . The solution is added to the milk mixture and given during feeding. According to the instructions, the daily dosage of Fenistil is 0.1 mg (or two drops) per kilogram of body weight, divided into three doses.
Infants should use Fenistil with caution. This drug has a sedative effect and can provoke episodes of sleep apnea. In newborns, this drug causes nervous excitement. After Fenistil, the baby may want to sleep. This is a normal reaction to an antihistamine.
Pediatricians recommend giving most of the medication in the evening and before bedtime.
How long should I take the drug?
How long to give Fenistil to a child to prevent the development of allergies from DPT should be decided by the pediatrician. Doctors usually recommend using an antihistamine a couple of days before and for three days after immunization.
If there is no particular need to take Fenistil, then it is better not to give it to the child. If your baby develops a rash after DTP, then you should use the gel, applying it in a thin layer to the affected area of the epidermis.
This will help relieve itching and inflammation. In this case, external medications are preferable because they are better tolerated and do not affect internal organs.
Contraindications for use
There are conditions in which Fenistil is contraindicated for use:
- Infants are up to 1 month old.
- Sensitivity to the active substance - dimethindene.
- Breast-feeding.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Pregnancy (especially the first trimester).
- Hyperplasia.
If your child has one or more of the conditions described above, you should tell your doctor. He will stop taking the medicine or adjust the dose. But if taking an antiallergic drug is not necessary, then it is better to refuse the medicine. If the baby does not have an allergy, he does not need Fenistil.
Sometimes doctors simply play it safe by prescribing medicine for adverse reactions after vaccination. Many parents also fear for their child and place responsibility on the drug and doctors.
Is Fenistil harmful for children?
Like other medications, Fenistil can cause unpleasant symptoms. However, this happens quite rarely.
However, some patients may develop a reaction to the drug itself. Sometimes drowsiness and fatigue occur. In rare cases, digestive disorders have been reported.
In children under one year of age, the drug can cause respiratory arrest, so the drug is prescribed to them only if absolutely necessary, and parents should monitor the breathing of the sleeping baby.
Despite the sedative effect, sometimes there is increased excitability, so it is better not to take the described remedy before bed.
Particular attention should be paid to dosage. If it is exceeded, it can harm the baby’s health. To neutralize the effects of an overdose, activated carbon is used, and constant monitoring of the heartbeat and breathing is also necessary.
Only a doctor can assess the possible harm from a medicine, and he makes a decision on the advisability of using a particular drug.
Fenistil before vaccination
An antihistamine before vaccination is prescribed by a doctor to those children who have severe allergic reactions to medications or food. Fenistil relieves allergic manifestations, thereby freeing the body from unnecessary stress before vaccination. And as you know, vaccination is also a big burden on the body.
Is it necessary to give Fenistil to a child under one year of age before DPT vaccination?
The opinions of doctors regarding the validity of prescribing Fenistil before DTP vaccination for a child under one year old differ.
Some advocate the use of antihistamines, while others believe that their use is inappropriate and dangerous. Children's doctor Komarovsky notes that DTP is a fairly reactogenic vaccine that is not always well tolerated. Negative reactions, as a rule, occur to the whole cell pertussis component, merthiolate and aluminum hydroxide.
Allergies can manifest as a rash over the body, angioedema, urticaria, Lyell's and Stevens Johnson syndromes, and anaphylaxis . The latter condition is considered especially dangerous, since without timely medical care it can lead to death. Fortunately, anaphylactic shock is extremely rare: one in a million cases.
According to the approved plan, DTP vaccination begins at three months. Up to one year, the child receives three doses of vaccination. If the baby has an intolerance to one of the components, then it becomes more pronounced with each subsequent injection.
To prevent allergies and create reliable protection against tetanus, whooping cough and diphtheria, Komarovsky recommends using Fenistil. According to the doctor, this drug is effective and safe for infants and older children. But not all doctors share the opinion about the need to prescribe antiallergic drugs to babies under one year of age.
Forms of release of the drug Fenistil
Doctors explain the negative attitude towards Fenistil before DTP with the following facts:
- an antihistamine erases allergy symptoms. A hypersensitive child who takes Fenistil may not experience complications after vaccination. But with subsequent vaccination, the manifestations of allergies will be more pronounced and, probably, the antihistamine will be ineffective. When taking Fenistil, it will not be possible to determine whether DPT is suitable or the vaccine is contraindicated;
- Any medication can provoke an allergy. A child may also be sensitive to individual components of Fenistil. In this case, it will not be clear whether the rash appeared from DPT or an antiallergic drug.
Opponents of antihistamine therapy before immunization believe that Fenistil is best used only when the child has already been diagnosed with an allergy. Then the drug will improve the baby’s condition.
The doctor must decide whether to take Fenistil. In this case, the following points are taken into account:
- the state of the child’s immune system;
- the baby’s tendency to be allergic to medications;
- the baby's well-being after the first vaccination.
If the immune system is weakened, there is a tendency to allergies, the first dose of DTP caused a rash on the body, high temperature, then it is advisable to take an antihistamine. It will help the baby tolerate immunoprophylaxis more easily and avoid the development of anaphylactic shock.
If the child is healthy and has never had allergic reactions to medications or DTP, then there is no need to give him Fenistil.
Purpose of use after DTP
As a rule, this drug is used in the post-vaccination period if the baby has the following allergic manifestations:
- hives;
- eczema or dermatitis;
- rhinitis;
- redness and itching in the injection area.
The antihistamine is designed to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, but does not affect the effectiveness of vaccination.
Which form to choose
The decision on which form of medication to use is made by the pediatrician after examining the child.
Independent choice of a medicine and its type poses a danger to the health of the baby. It is noted that it is most convenient to use drops for children. They have a pleasant taste, are colorless and have no odor. Due to this, the baby does not experience disgust while taking them.
Having penetrated the body, the active ingredients of the drops block histamine receptors, which provoke the appearance of undesirable reactions. Due to this, unpleasant symptoms quickly disappear.
