Vaccination is so far the only reliable method of preventing dangerous diseases. Vaccinations begin from infancy. This allows a person to develop immunity and tolerate certain diseases more easily. Pediatricians often recommend that parents choose the Infanrix and Hexa vaccines. These drugs are produced by the same company, but they are different in composition. To decide which is better to vaccinate, you need to understand what Infanrix Hexa and Infanrix are, what are the differences and common features of these drugs.
Difference between Infanrix and Infanrix Hexa
These are Belgian-made vaccines.
Both drugs are recommended by WHO and are actively used in Russia for immunizing children. These tools have differences:
- in the composition;
- mechanism of action;
- dosage;
- list of adverse reactions;
- cost.
To understand which vaccine to give preference to, you need to consider the features of each drug and make a comparison.
Difference in composition
Infanrix and Infanrix Hexa differ in the content of active and additional components.
Infanrix contains the following main active ingredients:
- diphtheria toxoid – 30 IU;
- tetanus – 30 IU;
- pertussis – 25 mcg;
- filamentous hemagglutinin – 25 mcg.
Additional components: aqueous aluminum oxide - 0.5 mg, purified water - 0.5 mg, pertactin - 8 mcg and sodium chloride - 4.5 mcg.
Hexa contains the following active elements:
- diphtheria toxoid – 30 IU;
- tetanus – 40 IU;
- pertussis – 7.5 mcg;
- filamentous hemagglutinin – 25 mcg;
- inactivated polio virus of the first type - 40, second - 8, third - 31 units;
- hepatitis B virus antigen – 10 mcg;
- capsular polysaccharide Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugated with tetanus toxoid – 10 mcg.
Infanrix Hexa
Additional components: hydrous aluminum oxide - 0.5 mg, Hanks' medium 199 - 0.09-1.15 mg, purified water - 0.5 mg, sodium chloride - 4.5 mg, aluminum phosphate - 0.2 mg and pertactin – 8 mcg.
Gex's composition is more complex. At the same time, the dosage of some components has been reduced.
Differences in mechanism of action
Infanrix - used for immunization against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. Its analogue is Hexa. This drug contains antigens to protect against the diseases listed above and additionally against Haemophilus influenzae, polio and hepatitis B.
The mechanism of action of vaccines is almost the same. The only difference is that Infanrix promotes the development of protective forces against three diseases, and Hexa - against six.
When vaccine components enter the bloodstream, the immune system begins to activate and fight the virus. As a result of this reaction, antibodies are produced that protect the body from the development of pathology. A child vaccinated with these drugs will not get a viral infection or will tolerate it much easier, without complications.
How else do the drugs differ?
The differences between the drugs do not end with the composition and mechanism of action. There are also some differences in adverse reactions and costs.
Adverse events associated with Infanrix immunoprophylaxis:
- fever;
- swelling at the injection site, swelling of the limb;
- drowsiness;
- prolonged crying;
- nervousness;
- headache;
- convulsions;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- increased body temperature;
- vomit;
- cough;
- stool disorder;
- respiratory arrest;
- hives;
- anaphylaxis;
- decreased platelet count;
- itching and rash in the injection area.
Hexa provokes similar adverse reactions and in addition can cause:
- weakness;
- unnatural crying;
- paralysis;
- inflammation of the meninges;
- damage to blood vessels;
- joint inflammation;
- papular dermatosis;
- inflammation of the brain.
The price of Infanrix is 740 rubles per dose. The cost of Hex is much higher and is equal to 1860 rubles per bottle.
Information on vaccination of children in the clinic
Dear parents!
In the vaccination office of the clinic (room No. 215), vaccinations of children from 0 to 6-7 years are carried out. Vaccination of schoolchildren is carried out at the medical centers of educational institutions.
Currently, the clinic has the following immunobiological medicines for immunizing children free of charge against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus:
- DTP (RF) – whole cell vaccine for vaccination of children aged 3 months to 4 years;
- Eupenta (Korea) is a combined whole-cell five-component vaccine containing, in addition to whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus antigens, antigens of hepatitis B virus and Haemophilus influenzae. Used for vaccination at the age of 2,3, 4 months;
- ADS - toxoid (RF) - for immunization against diphtheria, tetanus at the age of 6 years;
- AD-M – toxoid (RF) – for immunization against diphtheria at the age of 11 years;
- ADS-M - toxoid (RF) - for immunization against diphtheria, tetanus at 16 years of age and then every 10 years in adults.
For immunization on a paid basis against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus (at the request of parents), the following immunobiological preparations are available:
- Infanrix (Belgium) – acellular vaccine for immunization against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus up to 4 years of age.
- Hexaxim (France) - the drug is intended for primary vaccination and revaccination of infants and young children, from 6 weeks to 24 months of age, against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio and invasive infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
To obtain permission to vaccinate a child, an examination by a pediatrician is required!
The clinic also provides vaccinations against the following infections free of charge
- against polio using the inactivated vaccine Imovax Polio (France) for immunization of children aged 3 months to 7 years;
- against viral hepatitis B using the Euvax B (Korea) for children from birth;
- against viral hepatitis A - Algavak M (RF) - for immunization of children from 3 years of age;
- against measles, rubella, mumps using the combined vaccine "Priorix" (Belgium) for immunization of children aged 12 months, 6 years;
- against pneumococcal infection - Synflorix (Belgium) for immunization of children under 5 years of age;
- against hemophilus influenzae infection - Act-Hib (France);
- chickenpox vaccine (China) – for immunization of contact children in areas of chickenpox.
On a paid basis (at the request of parents), girls aged 10 years and older are immunized against the human papillomavirus with the Cervarix (Belgium).
Good to know
Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by the diphtheria bacillus, which produces a toxin that causes damage to the nervous system, heart muscles, adrenal glands and kidneys.
Diphtheria is transmitted through the air Vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough
- by droplets, but contact-household transmission cannot be excluded.
People of any age are susceptible to diphtheria.
The incubation (latent) period for diphtheria ranges from 2 to 10 days.
The most common is diphtheria of the throat . The disease begins with an increase in temperature to 38 - 39 0C, the appearance of pain in the throat when swallowing, followed by the formation of plaque on the tonsils. In severe cases of the disease, swelling of the palatine tonsils and subcutaneous tissue in the neck area is observed, which can spread to the chest. In the 1st week of the disease, diphtheria toxin causes vascular insufficiency due to damage to the adrenal glands. In severe cases, myocarditis and nephritis occur in the 2nd - 3rd week, and after the 3rd week - damage to the nervous system.
The prognosis for diphtheria is serious and depends on the timing of the start of specific treatment. The mortality rate is up to 30%.
Diphtheria infection leaves immunity, which persists in 50% of patients for at least 1 year. Repeated cases of the disease are rare; however, people who have had this disease also need to be vaccinated against diphtheria.
Whooping cough is an infectious disease characterized by bouts of painful coughing for 1 to 2 months, often causing complications in the respiratory and nervous systems.
The source of infection are sick children with typical manifestations of the disease, as well as patients with latent forms of the disease.
Transmission of the disease occurs through airborne droplets of saliva and mucus during close contact. Patients are contagious for 30 days from the onset of the disease.
The incubation (hidden) period of the disease is 2 – 15 days. After this, the child’s temperature rises to 37.5 0C, a dry cough appears, which becomes more and more intrusive over time. Whooping cough is most severe in infants, especially those under 6 months of age.
The prognosis for whooping cough is generally favorable, but the disease can be fatal due to respiratory arrest and cerebral hemorrhage, especially in children in the first 6 months of life.
Tetanus is an infectious disease caused by the action of an exotoxin produced by the tetanus bacillus.
In developing countries, tetanus is one of the leading causes of death in newborns. In most cases, unvaccinated individuals and children born to unvaccinated women become ill.
The tetanus bacillus is found in the soil and when it gets into a wound (in most patients there is an indication of an injury suffered during the previous 2 weeks), it begins to multiply and secrete a strong exotoxin, causing damage to the nervous system and the development of tetanus convulsions.
The incubation (latent) period for tetanus is 3–14 days, but can range from 1 day to several months.
Is it possible to have both vaccinations?
Before vaccination, it is important to decide what kind of immunoprophylaxis to use. Both vaccines cannot be used at the same time, since they contain antigens against whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria: if two drugs are administered, there will be an overdose, the body may not be able to cope with such a load. Doctors recommend vaccination with Infanrix Hexa or regular Infanrix and vaccines against polio, hepatitis B and hemophilus influenzae infection. After Infanrix, revaccination of Hex is allowed.
Pharmacological action of vaccines
Both vaccines are intended to prevent the following diseases:
- diphtheria,
- hemophilia,
- whooping cough and parawhooping cough,
- polio,
- tetanus.
Infanrix Hexa additionally includes components that are antigens of the hepatitis B virus. The drugs provide high protection against the diseases indicated in the list. The immune response comes quickly and is of sufficient strength: the probability of contracting diseases against which prevention is carried out is reduced to 5% or lower, and those who become ill tolerate the infection much more easily and recover without consequences in 98% of cases.
Komarovsky avoids answering which is better. Only the attending physician can suggest the best option. Regardless of which drug is used, the side effects of both drugs are approximately the same:
- anxiety,
- loss of appetite,
- temperature increase,
- allergic reactions,
- swelling at the injection site.
Usually the side effect goes away within a day. If after 24 hours the child’s condition worsens, you should immediately consult a doctor. Allergic reactions pose the greatest danger, but they usually occur quickly. This is why doctors do not recommend leaving the clinic immediately after vaccination. If after half an hour the little patient’s well-being has not worsened, then there is no need to be afraid of the worst consequences of the vaccination.
Vaccine Infanrix or Infanrix Hexa: which is better
Infanrix is a three-component vaccine, an improved analogue of the old DTP drug. The product protects against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.
This means that to prevent hepatitis B, polio and Haemophilus influenzae infection, you will have to be vaccinated additionally. It is much more convenient to introduce Hexa, which allows you to develop immunity against six viral pathologies.
Some parents believe that it is better not to load their child with multi-component drugs at a time, and choose a combination of Infanrix with mono-vaccines (the drugs are administered on different days).
So, instead of Hex, you can use Infanrix and Imovax Polio (against polio), Hiberix (protects against Haemophilus influenzae infection), Engerix B (against hepatitis B). This approach is expensive and inconvenient.
Doctors say it is better to use Hexa. It has been clinically proven that the use of multicomponent vaccines reduces the likelihood of adverse reactions and post-vaccination complications.
Advantages of the drug:
- protection against a large number of diseases;
- minimizing stress for the child;
- no time spent on frequent trips to the clinic;
- reduced risk of an allergic reaction.
The company claims that the drug is absolutely safe and can be used to vaccinate children from 3 months of age.
Available - about vaccines
Consulting: Iona Rubikovna Dilanyan , Deputy Chief Physician at the Odrik Children's Health House Svetlana Viktorovna Kozlova , Head of the Odrik Children's Health House
The purpose of vaccinations is to familiarize the body with a possible aggressor so that the immune system can produce protective antibodies. At the same time, figuratively speaking, it is not necessary to invite a criminal into the house - his portrait is enough to get acquainted. This is precisely the role played by transformed microorganisms, on the basis of which vaccines are produced. All types of such drugs have their own characteristics.
"Live" (attenuated) vaccines
They are produced from weakened microorganisms. “Live” vaccines have been altered to such an extent that they can no longer cause disease, but to the immune system they look like the real thing. This type of vaccine is used to prevent measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, rotavirus, tuberculosis and polio. Important! Live vaccines provide the most durable immunity - but they are also the most associated with risks. In rare cases, the pathogen can return to an active state and cause disease. This happens when a live polio vaccine is administered (fortunately, there is an alternative in the next group of drugs).
Inactivated vaccines
Such vaccines are created on the basis of a “killed” pathogen. But at the same time, the pathogen remains recognizable to the immune system and becomes a stimulus for the formation of the necessary antibodies. These drugs include whole cell pertussis vaccine and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). Important! The immune response to killed microbes is weaker than to live ones, but it is still effective. It is impossible to get infected from such a vaccine - there is nothing living in it.
Subunit vaccines
This is no longer just a killed pathogen, but its fragments. The causative agent of the disease is “dissected” by releasing the antigen - the very particle to which immune cells react. This is how the antihemophilic vaccine, the influenza vaccine, and the acellular whooping cough vaccine appear. There are also drugs created using genetic engineering - for example, a vaccine against hepatitis B. Important! There are a minimum of adverse reactions - but some of these vaccines require sequential administration of several doses to form lasting immunity.
Vaccines with toxoid
Such vaccines contain a neutralized bacterial toxin - toxoid. They trigger the production of antibodies against the corresponding toxin. These are, for example, anti-tetanus and anti-diphtheria vaccines. Important! To maintain immunity, revaccination is carried out: children are vaccinated first according to the calendar, and then every 5 years. Adults are vaccinated every 10 years.
Combination vaccines
Yes, there are some. By the way, many parents fear that such drugs “put a lot of stress on the body.” However, you should not be afraid of them: the number of components does not affect the frequency of complications and the severity of post-vaccination reactions. But such vaccines cause minimal discomfort in young patients - instead of three, four or even six injections, only one is needed. The childhood vaccination schedule includes several combined vaccines.
- Hexaxim and Infanrix Hexa include components that help fight diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, polio and Haemophilus influenzae.
- Pentaxim combines vaccines that help fight diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio and Haemophilus influenzae.
- "Infanrix IPV" and "Tetraxim" consist of DTP (fights diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus) and inactivated polio vaccine.
- Priorix includes live but attenuated vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella.
Vaccination of children is an important and complex topic. But she has one goal: to protect the body from infections as early and as reliably as possible.
Diphtheria and tetanus. Prevention
Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease characterized by inflammatory changes (formation of specific films) on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, phenomena of general intoxication and toxic damage to the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
Diphtheria
is caused by the diphtheria bacillus (Leffler's bacillus), which is transmitted by airborne droplets. Less common is contact and household transmission (through infected surfaces and objects, hands). The incubation period of this disease (the time from the moment of infection to the first clinical manifestations) is usually 3-7, up to 10 days. Depending on the location of the local pathological process, diphtheria is distinguished from the oropharynx, nasopharynx, larynx, skin, eyes, and genitals. In some cases, simultaneous damage to various organs occurs - combined diphtheria.
Symptoms of diphtheria:
The disease begins with an increase in temperature, usually up to 38-39 ° C, which is accompanied by a headache, lack of appetite, and a sore throat, especially when swallowing. The same picture can be observed with acute respiratory infections, ARVI, which often confuses parents who decide that their baby just has a cold. In children and adults affected by diphtheria, the symptoms are the same: the palatine tonsils become enlarged, dirty-gray, yellow-gray or cream-colored films appear on them; in severe cases, they can partially block or completely close the airways, causing asphyxia, the lymph nodes become enlarged , the neck often swells greatly. The most common complications of diphtheria are infectious-toxic myocarditis, infectious-toxic shock, infectious-toxic polyneuropathy, and acute renal failure.
Tetanus is an acute infectious disease characterized by severe toxic damage to the nervous system with tonic and clonic convulsions and high mortality.
Etiology.
The causative agent is a large rod, an anaerobe; forms spores and produces exotoxin. The microorganism is widespread in nature and persists in the soil for many years. It is a common, harmless inhabitant of the intestines of many domestic animals. The pathogen spores enter the human body through various injuries, often minor injuries to the skin, especially the lower extremities. Under anaerobic conditions, the spores transform into vegetative forms, which begin to multiply and secrete an exotoxin that causes damage to the anterior horns of the spinal cord.
Clinic.
Generalized tetanus is more common, in which a sharp increase in muscle tone and generalized tonic convulsions are noted. The incubation period is from 1 to 21 days (usually 5–14) days. The disease begins with unpleasant sensations in the wound area (pulling pain, twitching of muscles around it) and increased reaction of the patient to external stimuli (sudden light, a breath of air); possible general malaise, anxiety, irritability, loss of appetite, headache, chills, low-grade body temperature, etc. The first and most common symptom is tonic tension (trismus) of the masticatory muscles. Patients complain of a feeling of tension and difficulty opening the mouth due to tonic convulsions. Then convulsive contractions appear in the muscles of the face and back of the head. Little by little, the muscles of the abdomen and back are seized by a tonic spasm, and the full clinical picture of tetanus develops. The disease can be complicated by pneumonia, muscle rupture, and compression fracture of the spine. The force of muscle contraction during the period of convulsions is so great that it can lead to fractures of the vertebral bodies, separation of muscles from their attachment points, and ruptures of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall and limbs.
Prevention:
The
most effective and affordable means of combating diphtheria and tetanus infections is vaccine prevention.
In accordance with the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations of the Republic of Belarus, vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus begins at the age of 2 months. The course of primary vaccination consists of 3 vaccinations administered at intervals of 1 month, therefore at 2, 3, 4 months of the child’s life. To maintain a protective level of immunity, it is necessary to re-introduce immunobiological drugs to children at the age of 18 months, and then at 6, 11 (only against diphtheria) and 16 years. Adults should receive the ADS-M toxoid vaccine (or ADS-M and AC) every 10 years from age 26 to age 66.
For immunization against diphtheria and tetanus in the Republic of Belarus, the multicomponent vaccines DPT (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough), Eupenta (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, viral hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae), Infanrix (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough), Tetraxim are used (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio), Hexaxim (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B virus, polio, hemophilus influenzae infection), Infanrix Hexa (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B virus, polio, hemophilus influenzae infection; toxoids ADS (against diphtheria and tetanus), ADS-M (against diphtheria and tetanus), AD-M (against diphtheria), AS (against tetanus); in 2021, the Adasel vaccine was introduced, which can be used in children from 4 years of age and adults ( only on a paid basis, it also contains a pertussis component).
Emergency prophylaxis of tetanus
for wounds, it consists of thorough primary surgical treatment of the wound and emergency immunoprophylaxis. Puncture wounds or other deep cuts, as well as animal bites, heavily contaminated wounds and burns carry a high risk of tetanus. Tetanus spores are extremely persistent in the environment and are ubiquitous. Contact your doctor immediately if you or your child has a deep, dirty wound, especially if you are unsure about the effectiveness of your vaccination.
Remember
that even if you received tetanus vaccines on time, but it has been more than five years since your last dose, you should repeat the vaccine immediately after your wound, preferably on the same day. Leave infected wounds open (do not wrap them with a bandage without a doctor’s permission), air has a detrimental effect on the causative agent of tetanus, this bacterium needs conditions without access to oxygen (this is why penetrating puncture wounds, fragments deep in tissue and burn scabs are so dangerous).
There is still no specific treatment for tetanus. Medical care for such patients consists of wound treatment, emergency vaccination, administration of tetanus serum to bind free tetanus toxin, alleviation of symptoms of the disease, and supportive care.
Emergency immunoprophylaxis is carried out with tetanus toxoid (AS-toxoid) or tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (ADS-M), anti-tetanus serum (TSS) and anti-tetanus human immunoglobulin (TSHI) differentiated.
Don't refuse vaccinations!
Consult a doctor in a timely manner, do not allow infections that can become so dangerous to take their course.
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