The most well-known vaccines in Russia are DTP and Pentaxim, which are used for vaccination against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus. With the development of these infections, damage occurs to the respiratory (diphtheria, whooping cough) and nervous (tetanus) systems.
In the absence of timely treatment, the functioning of the kidneys and heart is impaired. Since the newborn’s body is still weak, susceptible to infections and needs support in the form of vaccinations.
When comparing drugs, each has its own pros and cons. To make a choice, let’s compare both vaccines, which one will be better and how they differ. There are 3 differences: composition, portability and price.
The expert worked on the article:
Olga
I love to travel and draw. She received two educations - pedagogical and medical. I can't imagine life without my family.
The information on the site is provided for informational purposes only. Don't self-medicate! Consult your doctor for advice.
Domestic vaccine DTP
Most Russian clinics use DTP. The name stands for adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccine. The drug is also available in the form of ADS (for children under 6 years of age) and ADS-M (for children over 7 years of age and adults).
When developed
The vaccine was licensed in 1949. Since then, its active use in medicine began: in 1950-1960, the drug made it possible to carry out large-scale immunization, affecting most industrialized countries.
In the USSR, the vaccine became especially widespread in the mid-1960s; it was at this time that the use of DPT became widespread.
In 1974, the vaccine was included by the World Health Organization in the Expanded Program on Immunization. According to statistics, by 2008 more than 80% of infants were vaccinated.
Compound
The drug is complex and combines three active components.
0.5 ml of vaccine contains:
- diphtheria toxoid – 15 FU;
- Bordetella pertussis (inactivated whooping cough pathogen) – 10 billion;
- tetanus toxoid – 5 EU.
All of these substances are compatible with each other and are easily tolerated by the human body. Merthiolate is used as an auxiliary component, which acts as a preservative. Its content per 0.5 ml of the drug is 100 mcg.
Whooping cough
Tetanus
Diphtheria
Operating principle
DPT is used to prevent the occurrence and development of the three most dangerous childhood diseases, namely whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria.
The injection is given intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Accumulating in the human body, the drug promotes the production of active substances and the formation of stable immunity to infections.
When to use
Vaccination is recommended for children under 4 years of age. According to the calendar, the first vaccination must be given to the baby at 3 months of age, the next two at 4.5 and 6 months. Adults are advised to get vaccinated every ten years as protection wanes.
The drug can be used if the body has a negative reaction to the first vaccination given using another vaccine.
Pentaxim
One of the foreign analogues of DTP is Pentaxim. Unlike the domestic drug, it additionally includes components that fight polio, as well as a number of diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b. These include meningitis, osteomyelitis, pneumonia and others.
Manufacturer
The production and release of Pentaxim is carried out by Sanofi Pasteur, founded in 1994 as a division of the pharmaceutical company Sanofi. The organization is located in France in the city of Lyon, where the production of medicines is also carried out. The issuing quality control is carried out by both the French company and the Russian company Nanolek.
Polio
Haemophilus influenzae
Compound
Pentaxim is a complex vaccine consisting of components directed against five infections.
One dose of 0.5 ml contains the following active substances:
- pertussis toxoid – 25 mcg;
- diphtheria toxoid – 30 IU;
- filamentous hemagglutinin – 25 mcg;
- tetanus toxoid – 40 IU;
- inactivated polio virus type 1 – 40 units, 2 – 8 units; 3 – 32 UNITS.
The lyophilisate contains polyribosylribitol phosphate, or polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae type b (in a volume of 10 mcg per 1 dose), combined with tetanus toxoid (18-30 mcg).
Pentaxim protects against five infectious diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae and polio, thus eliminating the need for additional vaccinations.
Operating principle
Pentaxim is administered intravenously. The vaccination is done in three stages, at each of which a certain dose of active substances that counteract infectious diseases enters the child’s body.
According to studies, in 100% of children who have been fully vaccinated, the amount of antibodies to diphtheria and tetanus reaches a seroprotective level.
When to use
Pentaxim is used to prevent 5 infectious diseases in children and adults:
- whooping cough;
- polio;
- tetanus;
- diphtheria;
- meningitis, epiglottitis, septicemia and other diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b.
The vaccine is used as an analogue of other drugs if they caused a negative reaction after the first vaccination.
Is it possible to put Pentaxim after DTP, and vice versa?
Many parents are interested in whether it is possible to do DPT after Pentaxim, and vice versa. It is sometimes necessary to replace medications if you are intolerant to the components of the drug or want to protect the child from a certain list of diseases. French and domestic vaccines are allowed to be used alternately.
But when using the two means alternately, the following points should be taken into account:
- Pentaxim protects against five infectious viral pathologies at once. Therefore, when returning to the DTP vaccine, you must not forget to vaccinate your child separately against the polio virus and hemophilus influenzae;
- when switching from DTP to Pentaxim, you need to take into account that to protect against polio and diseases caused by Hemophilus influenzae, one dose will not be enough (if necessary, the doctor may prescribe additional vaccination against these pathologies after a course of Pentaxim);
- DTP is much less well tolerated and often causes side effects. If you use a domestic drug after a foreign one, the body may react poorly. But the use of Pentaxim after DPT is unlikely to cause serious complications.
Often parents decide to switch from Pentaxim to DTP due to the lack of French vaccine in pharmacies or online stores. In any case, it is recommended to consult with your pediatrician regarding the advisability of replacing the drug.
Comparison of vaccines by composition
DTP is a complex medicine that protects against 3 childhood diseases; it contains tetanus and diphtheria toxoids combined with the whooping cough pathogen Bordetella pertussis in an inactivated state.
The difference is that Pentaxim is a complex vaccine, but consists of 5 active substances: three types of polio viruses and Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide conjugated with tetanus toxoid are added to the DPT components.
In addition to these elements, the injection contains filamentous hemagglutinin, which is responsible for the production of antibodies to whooping cough.
Table - Comparison of how Pentaxim differs from DTP
| Components | DTP | Pentaxim |
| Diphtheria toxoid | 15 FE | 30 IU |
| Tetanus toxoid | 5 EU | 40 IU |
| Bordetella pertussis | 10 billion | 0 |
| Pertussis toxoid | 0 | 25 mcg |
| Filamentous hemagglutinin | 0 | 25 mcg |
| Poliovirus types 1, 2, 3 | 0 | 40\8\32 units |
Both drugs are aimed at preventing whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria, but Pentaxim additionally contains antibodies to polio and diseases caused by the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae type b.
Analogues of vaccination drugs
Each child's body is individual. There are times when a baby reacts poorly to Pentaxim and DPT: he develops an allergy and has severe side effects. In this case, analogues of these vaccination agents may be recommended.
You can replace domestic and French vaccines with the following drugs:
- Tetrakok . Protects against tetanus, diphtheria, polio and whooping cough. The drug does not contain live bacteria or viruses. Has a whole cell pertussis component. Therefore, Tetracoc's tolerability is worse than that of Pentaxima;
- Infanrix Hexa . The vaccine contains pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria toxoids, hepatitis B type antigen, killed polio virus of 1-3 types. Since the drug protects against five diseases at once, it is considered a more complete analogue of Pentaxim;
- Hiberix . Promotes the formation of immunity against diseases caused by hemophilus influenzae infection;
- Infanrix . Contains diphtheria and tetanus toxoid, acellular pertussis component. Much easier to tolerate than DTP;
- Bubo Kok . Develops specific immunity against tetanus, hepatitis B, whooping cough and diphtheria. It also additionally protects against hepatitis D, which usually develops against the background of hepatitis B.
These vaccinations differ in composition, list of contraindications, adverse reactions, and cost. Only a competent doctor can choose an alternative to Pentaxim or DPT.
In order for a child to tolerate the vaccine well, it is necessary to take into account what substances cause complications in him. Therefore, parents are advised to consult a pediatrician.
Which vaccine to choose: domestic or foreign
The choice of medication for vaccination remains with the parents. It is important to consider that DTP is given in clinics free of charge, while for an imported vaccine you will have to pay from 2500 - 3000 rubles, this makes the domestic drug more affordable.
It is believed that Pentaxim is easier to tolerate. This is due to the composition of the vaccine, for the production of which split pertussis is used. The domestic analogue, on the contrary, contains large cell compounds with a large number of antigens.
The imported vaccine protects the body against five diseases, including polio and infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b. In the case of DTP, these vaccinations will have to be given separately.
Video: what is the difference between vaccines
In this video, the pediatrician talks about the domestic vaccine and its analogues - Pentaxime and Infanrix Hexa. General information is given on each injection and the features of replacing one drug with another.
The main task of the immune system is to respond to any environmental factors and maintain harmony in the body. It is this system that helps a person live in the changing conditions of our planet in symbiosis with many microorganisms, while at the same time repelling the attacks of those microbes that do not want to live in the world with us. Bacilli, in turn, do not sleep, improving their “attack” abilities in tandem with viruses. As a result, we have the fact that every day there is a war invisible to us between the defense of our body and pathogenic agents.
Everything would be fine, but some “infections” in the process of evolution have become so aggressive that no normal immune system can cope with them. And he doesn’t know about such diseases until he encounters them in direct combat. But in this case, very often it may be too late - the body will die before the immune system develops effective battle tactics. Therefore, we can really say that vaccination is necessary, vaccination is important.
Whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus are not what a child should encounter in life, believe me. Despite any stories about killer vaccines, a child should be vaccinated in any case. Whether it’s DPT, or Pentaxim, or any other vaccination, the body can react calmly, or maybe violently, it all depends solely on the individual child. The choice of drug, in any case, remains with the parents, naturally, after consultation with a pediatrician. The main thing is that at the time of vaccination the baby is healthy, then any injection will be tolerated without noticeable inconvenience.
If you have vaccinated your baby with at least one of the drugs, be sure to share your impressions in the comments . There are as many reactions to vaccination as there are organisms; your personal experience will help young mothers and fathers navigate the choice of vaccine for their baby. Easy vaccinations and healthy children!
Difference in side effects
Both vaccines cause unwanted reactions in the body. Side effects are generally similar: after using DTP and Pentaxim, there is a temporary increase in temperature and malaise. Redness and thickening are observed at the vaccination site. If an allergy to the drug occurs, a rash or anaphylactic reaction develops.
When using Pentaxim, insomnia and nervousness, as well as disorders of the digestive tract (diarrhea, vomiting), are additionally noted. Because both vaccines cause fever, in rare cases children may experience seizures.
Are vaccines interchangeable?
Is it possible to put Pentaxim after DTP and vice versa? Yes, all vaccines against whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria are considered interchangeable, so it is acceptable to give Pentaxim after DPT. However, it is important to take into account that the imported vaccine contains inactivated polio virus.
If you refuse Pentaxim, you should continue to be vaccinated with drugs with a similar composition. If the first polio vaccine contained an activated component, the drug should not be used.
Repeated vaccination
Many parents are concerned about at least one of the following questions:
- Is it possible to put Pentaxim after DTP?
- Is it possible to do regular DTP after Pentaxim?
So, you can do both, and do it completely calmly. In some cases, this approach is even justified:
- If after domestic vaccination the adverse reactions were too severe . No matter how much the baby suffers in the first days after DPT, revaccination should not be skipped under any circumstances. Believe me, in the event of a real illness, the child will suffer much more severely and for longer. But if the reaction to a conventional vaccine is not within any framework, it is better to vaccinate again with a foreign drug, after consulting with a doctor.
- If the child tolerated the Pentaxim vaccination very well . Now his immune system is much better prepared, so it should be able to cope with the free domestic drug without any problems. And the process of forming immunity from the three most terrible diseases will make this trick significantly cheaper.
- If you have had an allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine . Both vaccinations are interchangeable; if you are allergic to one, it is better to replace it with another, naturally, after preliminary consultation with a pediatrician.
Differences in contraindications
DPT and Pentaxim cannot be used in the following cases:
- hypersensitivity to any of the components of the composition;
- febrile and afebrile convulsions previously observed in the child;
- rapidly developing diseases of the nervous system;
- an unfavorable reaction of the body to the first vaccination, namely a temperature above 40 ° C, the development of severe swelling at the injection site.
Pentaxim should be used with caution if a child has bleeding disorders. If encephalopathy develops after vaccination, further use of the drug is contraindicated.
Contraindications
Pentaxim is considered one of the best drugs with minimal side effects. However, like any vaccine, it has a number of contraindications:
- Hypersensitivity to one of the components included in the vaccine.
- Encephalopathy.
- Infectious diseases of the nasopharynx.
- Allergy to vaccination in the patient or his close relatives.
- Brain lesions.
- Cramps.
Vaccination should be stopped if the child cries for several hours after vaccination or redness appears on the skin. You need to see a doctor who will determine whether you can continue injecting Pentaxim.
It should be noted that in children with a weakened immune system, the reaction to the drug is significantly reduced. But despite this, Komarovsky recommends getting the vaccine, which will help avoid health problems in the future.
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Disadvantages of Pentaxim and DTP
The domestic vaccine is considered more aggressive due to the content of a large number of whooping cough antigens. In this regard, the reaction to DPT is usually more severe: there is often an increase in temperature up to 40°C, irritability, crying, and a general deterioration in well-being.
Pentaxim acts more gently. It is important to take into account that immunity works less aggressively than in the case of DTP, and therefore protection from infection is shorter-term.
Is there a difference in the vaccination schedule?
Regardless of the drug chosen, vaccination follows the same scheme. The first vaccination is given at 3 months and repeated every one and a half months. The course consists of three vaccines.
With Pentaxim, parents also protect their child from diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae and polio. If DTP is chosen, these vaccinations are given separately at the same age.
The schedule for DPT and Pentaxim is the same; it is recommended to start the vaccination course at 3 months.
Doctor Komarovsky's opinion
If parents have a choice between a domestic vaccine or a foreign analogue, Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky advises choosing an imported product. The doctor notes that Pentaxim is a new generation drug and has a gentler effect.
Komarovsky also recognized DTP as a high-quality vaccine; unlike the French injection, it is widely distributed in clinics and is used free of charge.
The Russian drug, due to its composition, causes a more aggressive reaction in the body, contributing to the formation of long-term protection.
Reviews from doctors
I recommended and continue to prescribe DTP to my patients. The properties of the vaccine are in no way inferior to foreign analogues, and in some ways even surpasses them, for example, in the period of protection against whooping cough. DPT is now actively used in all Russian clinics, it is easy to install, and it is absolutely free.
Skomorokhina Elena Gennadievna, therapist of the highest category, 17 years of experience
Personally, I prefer Pentaxim and recommend it to mothers who are afraid to give their baby a domestic vaccine. This is a new generation French drug that does not act as harshly as DTP: many children experience only a slight increase in temperature, and some do without it at all. In addition, Pentaxim has an expanded composition, and unlike the domestic drug, it also fights polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b.
Stepanov Alexey Andreevich, pediatrician, 10 years of experience
Overall, I don't see much difference between these vaccines. The mechanism of action is approximately the same. But now doctors are still leaning towards imported drugs like Pentaxim, since they are easier to tolerate. However, if the clinic only offers DPT, you should not be afraid of it: yes, the effect is harsher, but strong, long-term immunity will be formed.
Dolgikh Svetlana Yurievna, infectious disease specialist, 13 years of experience
Infanrix or Pentaxim: which is better for a child?
To decide on the optimal vaccine option for a child, you need to find out what features and advantages Infanrix and Pentaxim have.
Features characteristic of both vaccines at the same time:
- deep degree of purification of the main components;
- good tolerability provided the injection is administered correctly;
- method of administration: intramuscular in the thigh area;
- It is forbidden to freeze vaccines, since in this case they may lose most of their properties.
Among the main advantages of the Infanrix vaccine it should be noted:
- ease of transfer;
- effective protection against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus;
- ease of use.
The following advantages are characteristic of the drug Pentaxim:
- protection against a larger number of diseases - in addition to tetanus, whooping cough and diphtheria, the vaccine provides immunity to polio and Haemophilus influenzae;
- minimum of adverse reactions;
- ease of dosing and administration;
- Possibility of use in case of violation of standard schedules of immunoprophylactic measures.
Vaccine Infanrix
When choosing a vaccine for a child, the individual situation should be taken into account. If the vaccination schedule is violated, as well as if it is necessary to provide additional protection against polio, Pentaxim is suitable. In all other cases, you can use Infanrix.
Both drugs are easily tolerated by the baby and cause virtually no complications.
