DTP vaccination leads in the frequency of post-vaccination complications requiring hospitalization

What is it, what is it for, composition

Vaccination is the main preventive measure aimed at viral and infectious diseases. It suppresses the child’s fragile immunity. DPT injection is considered one of the most common. It is given to prevent whooping cough, tetanus, and diphtheria. The structure of the medicinal solution includes the following components:

• tetanus toxoid;
• pertussis microbial cells;
• diphtheria toxoid.

Vaccination is carried out at three months of age. During this period, the child is in a vulnerable state, since the immune system is not fully formed. The introduction of a drug with foreign cells into the body triggers complex mechanisms. This provokes the appearance of side symptoms. The most reactogenic substance of the drug is whooping cough cells. That is why some pharmaceutical companies exclude potentially dangerous components from the composition.

What is the DPT vaccine for: explanation and indications

The abbreviation DTP stands for adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccine. Its composition is a suspension of inactivated pertussis bacteria, as well as purified diphtheria and tetanus toxoids in various dosages.

Thus, one milliliter of the domestically produced DPT vaccine contains:

• 20 billion microbial pertussis cells;
• 30 flocculating units of diphtheria toxoid;
• 10 units of tetanus toxoid;
• as a preservative - merthiolate (thiomersal).

The indication for the use of the DPT vaccine is the simultaneous prevention of whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus in children aged three months to three years.

The main task of such a vaccination is to stimulate the production of specific antibodies to the above-mentioned infectious diseases.

The vaccine meets all requirements of the World Health Organization.

To whom and when do they do it: indications, schedule

DTP is done for preventive purposes. It is a mandatory measure. No special indications for vaccination are required. But the following conditions must be met:

• examination by a pediatrician;
• age at least 3 months;
• normal test results;
• good health of the baby.

Parents have the right to refuse preventive manipulation without giving reasons. The DTP schedule is presented in the table. Please note that at 3 months of age this vaccine is often combined with the polio vaccine.

In adulthood, revaccination is carried out every 10 years, starting at the age of 24 years.

Preparing a child for vaccination

To make the process of administering the medicine as comfortable as possible for the child, you should properly prepare for the procedure. Among the mandatory conditions:

1. It is necessary to first visit a neurologist and undergo the appropriate tests.
2. If the baby has an allergic reaction, antihistamines are taken 3 days before the visit to the treatment room. Dosage and regimen are discussed individually.
3. On the day of vaccination, you should not give your child heavy food.
4. Before vaccination, you should make sure that the baby is in good health.

For whom vaccinations are contraindicated

Before vaccination, you must ensure that there are no contraindications. For this purpose, a medical examination is carried out. Vaccinations are strictly contraindicated in the following cases:

• immunodeficiency disorders;
• epilepsy;
• side effects that occurred due to previous vaccination;
• convulsions not accompanied by an increase in body temperature;
• progressive encephalopathy;
• neurological diseases;
• birth injuries.

There are a number of relative contraindications. If available, the decision to vaccinate is made on an individual basis. In most cases, vaccination is postponed to a later date. Temporary contraindications include:

• period of exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• indigestion;
• symptoms of infectious and viral diseases;
• elevated temperature of unknown origin.

What are the complications of DTP vaccination?

Every parent wants to know what the possible consequences of vaccination may be. Possible complications are divided into general and local. Most often, an allergic response develops. It is accompanied by an increase in temperature indicators. Normally, unpleasant symptoms disappear after 1-2 days.

Local body reactions

Local manifestations include symptoms affecting the injection site. It may hurt, rash, or itch. In some cases, swelling occurs. A reaction to the DPT vaccine can cause lumps on the skin. The diameter of the neoplasm is 10-15 cm. It rises above the skin surface and is easily palpable. These symptoms may be accompanied by fever. 3 days after the injection, discomfort and compaction should disappear. If this does not happen, you need to consult a doctor.

General reactions of the child’s body to DTP

Very often, after the DTP vaccination, the child’s health worsens. This is due to the activation of the body's defenses. General reactions to DTP vaccination are divided into groups, depending on the cause of their occurrence. These include:

• allergic response of the body;
• toxic poisoning;
• incorrect injection;
• addition of infection;
• damage to the nervous system.

After visiting the treatment room, doctors advise you to sit for a while in a medical facility. This is necessary to monitor the child’s condition. In case of dangerous complications, timely measures will be taken. Severe pathologies make themselves felt immediately. Minor complications tend to develop gradually. Common reactions to DPT include:

1. If the technique for administering the solution is violated, the baby’s leg hurts. There may be lameness during movement.
2. The most common symptoms that occur after DTP vaccination include increased body temperature. The child becomes lethargic and capricious. Possible loss of appetite and vomiting. Temperatures above 38.5 °C are considered critical.
3. A dangerous manifestation of an allergic reaction in more severe cases is Quincke's edema. It develops within 20 minutes after the injection.
4. If the injection area is not sufficiently disinfected, it may become infected. This leads to the development of local purulent inflammation.
5. The nervous system reacts especially sharply to the entry of foreign cells into the body. The baby has seizures and his mood changes. These signs are due to slight swelling of the brain.

What can be the consequences after DTP vaccination in children?

It should be borne in mind that sometimes the consequences of DTP vaccination in children can be much more severe.
The reasons are different, including failure to comply with doctor’s requirements during the post-vaccination period and individual intolerance to the components of the vaccination drug. Adverse consequences are:

• restless crying that does not stop for several hours - this indicates damage to the nervous system as a result of exposure to the pertussis component;
• an increase in body temperature above +38⁰, accompanied by convulsive muscle spasms. This indicates disorders that are neurological in nature. If you ignore this symptom, there is a risk of cerebral hypoxia, so it is necessary to show the child to the doctor as quickly as possible;
• severe allergic manifestations in the form of atopic dermatitis and diathesis, accompanied by unpleasant sensations - dryness, itching and flaking of the skin, as well as the formation of wetting ulcers. In rare cases, allergic swelling of internal organs and anaphylactic shock may occur;
• cerebral encephalitis, which is a severe inflammatory disease.

General symptoms

Post-vaccination complications after DTP vaccination can manifest themselves in different ways. This depends on the initial state of the body, compliance with injection standards, and the immune response. The most common general symptoms include:

• increased body temperature;
• indigestion;
• skin rashes;
• allergies;
• cough, snot;
• convulsions.

Increased body temperature

The main thing that parents need to know is how long the temperature lasts after vaccination. It can be used to determine the degree of sensitivity of the body to the introduced drug. If the temperature stays around 37.5 °C, we are talking about a weak reaction of the body. The average degree of intensity of complications is indicated by a temperature in the range from 37.5 to 38.5 °C. Anything higher is considered a severe deviation requiring medical intervention.

Intestinal disorders

After vaccination with DTP, difficulties may arise with the digestion process. Dyspeptic disorders often appear, accompanied by loss of appetite and nausea. A short-term but fairly common side effect is diarrhea. It is typical not only for tetanus vaccination, but also for polio vaccination. In this case, vaccination is carried out with medicine in liquid form. Typically, digestion returns to normal within 2-3 days after the vaccine is administered.

Rash all over the body

Possible adverse reactions from vaccination include rashes. They can be localized in a specific area or scattered throughout the body. Most often, the rash appears in the form of small dots. It develops as a result of an allergic reaction or is a consequence of a decrease in the body's defenses.

In the second case, the rash indicates the appearance of chickenpox. One of the reasons for its development is suppressed immunity. The rash may itch and crust over. The child during this period is a carrier of the disease. Therefore, you need to limit contact with others.

Allergic rash

After receiving a tetanus shot, there is an increased risk of developing an allergic reaction. Most often it manifests itself in the form of a characteristic rash. Red dots on the body may be accompanied by swelling of the skin surface and itching sensations. Allergic manifestations make themselves felt in the first hours after vaccination. If your baby experiences asthma attacks, immediate help should be provided.

Cough and snot

Against the background of vaccination, symptoms of whooping cough appear in children. This is due to the insignificant introduction of bacterial cells into the body. Common side effects include mucous discharge from the nose and intense cough. With whooping cough, the respiratory system is primarily affected. A child's body may not be able to withstand the load on the lungs. After the vaccine is administered, the cough is not as intense. As a rule, it completely disappears after 2-3 days.

Convulsions

Seizures are considered the initial stage of the development of post-vaccination encephalitis. It is characterized by inflammation in the brain area. According to medical statistics, seizures develop very rarely. In 95% of cases they occur on the first day. In some cases, their appearance is caused by an exacerbation of a hidden neurological disease. Febrile seizures are the main manifestation of a febrile state. They are often accompanied by an increase in body temperature.

What happens if you get vaccinated against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus at the wrong time?

If you are lucky and the child does not encounter an infection, then nothing dangerous to his life and health will happen.
Otherwise, there is a high probability that the baby will become infected even after minor contact with a carrier of the infection. The most dangerous thing for health is skipping primary vaccination.

In this case, immunity that has not yet been fully formed may not be able to cope with the impact of the infectious agent. If we are talking about revaccination, a violation of the timing (insignificant) of administering the injection is allowed.

Treatment of adverse reactions

Parents should know not only what complications DPT causes, but also how to treat them. Help for your baby after vaccination in case of side effects is as follows:

1. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be treated with antihistamines.
2. The temperature should not be reduced to 38.5 °C. If it increases above this mark, it is necessary to give the child an antipyretic drug.
3. If the injection area is swollen and painful, a numbing ointment is applied.
4. If a lump or lump forms, accompanied by severe pain, it is necessary to show the child to a pediatrician as soon as possible.

What to do if complications arise

When vaccinated with any vaccine, including DTP, careful monitoring of the child’s condition on the day of vaccination and several days after is necessary. If side effects occur, you must immediately take adequate measures to help alleviate their course.

So, if the temperature rises, you should immediately give the child an antipyretic drug (paracetamol or ibuprofen), you can do this immediately after the vaccination and give a prophylactic dose at night. At the first symptoms of an allergy, antihistamines (anti-allergic) drugs will help; you can often apply them topically to the injection area (there are similar products in the form of ointments).

You should limit physical activity for a couple of days; drinking plenty of fluids and eating light food will be an advantage. Monitor the air and humidity parameters in the nursery: the air should be cool (18-20 degrees Celsius) and humid (60-70%). Such simple measures will help your baby endure unpleasant consequences as easily as possible.

As mentioned above, for any other reactions, for more severe complications, you must urgently go to the hospital.

Efficiency and assistance to the baby after vaccination

DPT vaccination does not provide a 100% guarantee of protection against infection. Vaccination helps to transfer the disease without complications in the event of a collision with its pathogens. The main function of vaccinations is to create collective immunity, which reduces the risk of epidemics. After revaccination, the body's resistance increases significantly.

After the injection, parents are advised to pay close attention to the baby’s well-being. The further outcome depends on how timely undesirable symptoms are detected.

Can you get whooping cough after vaccination?

The DTP vaccine contains inactivated particles of pathogenic bacteria that have undergone additional purification. Thanks to this, the introduction of a vaccine composition into the body contributes to the appearance of the correct immune response to the pathogen. However, the strength of the inactivated particles is not enough to cause the development of whooping cough.

Parents of a child undergoing immunization should not be afraid of infection.

Tips for dealing with negative reactions

It is impossible to completely protect your baby from complications that arise after vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. It is quite possible to minimize risks. To do this, you must follow the following recommendations:

1. You cannot bathe your child or get the injection site wet on the first day after visiting the treatment room.
2. It is not advisable to visit crowded places in the first 2-3 days after vaccination.
3. It is necessary to ensure a calm emotional environment in the home.
4. If the baby has a negative reaction to the first vaccination, an alternative drug replacement is selected.
5. During the vaccination period, the child’s diet should not be changed.

What analogues of DPT are there?

DPT is often replaced with alternative means. The following vaccine analogues are distinguished:

1. Infanrix is ​​distinguished by the absence of microorganisms that cause whooping cough in its composition. Side effects with these drugs occur less frequently. The birthplace of production is France.
2. Pentaxim includes five active components. Unlike standard DPT, it provides protection against Haemophilus influenzae. The drug is produced in Belgium.
3. Infanrix IPV additionally prevents a child from contracting polio.

In what cases do they call the ambulance?

Serious complications can occur after vaccination against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. But not in all cases, parents are able to distinguish standard side effects from severe complications. The emergency room is called if the following signs are present:

• Quincke's edema;
• drop in blood pressure;
• critical increase in body temperature (from 40 °C);
• swelling at the injection site, the diameter of which exceeds 10 cm;
• crying for more than 3 hours.

If you have doubts about a particular symptom, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician. There is no need to be too vigilant in this case. The effectiveness of treatment of complications directly depends on the timeliness of their detection.