DTP is a combined vaccine against three diseases: diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. In Poland, the DTP vaccine is given to children as early as the second month of life. What are the types of this vaccine? Can every child be vaccinated with it? And how should they be prepared for vaccination?

The DTP vaccineis supposed to protect against three diseases: diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, which are very dangerous especially in young children.

Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough are very rare diseases today, probably due to the prevalence of vaccinations, but cases are still present - especially in whooping cough. Adults and adolescents (in Poland there are about 3,000 cases a year) usually suffer from whooping cough, whose immunity has slightly lost after vaccination, and the disease takes the form of chronic cough.

DTP vaccines do not give immunity for life, but only for a few years. In order for this immunity to last, you need to systematically vaccinate yourself (with DTaP vaccine). DTaA vaccine with a reduced content of the pertussis component is recommended for all adults, in particular for people who come into contact with newborns and infants, the elderly, pregnant women (after 28 weeks), and people taking care of chronically ill.

Types of DTP vaccines (against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis)

Combined DTP vaccine is the so-called the vaccine is dead. It is designed to make your baby's body produce antibodies to help protect him / her from developing diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. It contains inactive toxoids - diphtheria and tetanus - and:

  • DTwP- whole, killed whooping cough bacteria (free vaccine);
  • DTaP- only purified pertussis proteins (paid vaccine, refunded only for children with neurological disorders).

Premature babies and babies with low birth weight are vaccinated with DTaP and the entire vaccination course should be continued with this type of vaccination.

There is also a DT vaccine against tetanus and diphtheria (e.g. for those who have already contracted whooping cough or cannot receive the DTP vaccine for other medical indications) and a cell-free vaccine (the popular Boostrix), the so-called reminding - recommended for people who want toincrease your immunity, for example due to the work performed (workers, medical staff),as the effectiveness of the basic vaccine decreases over time .

Worth knowing

In each country, vaccination follows a slightly different pattern. According to the vaccination calendar in force in Poland, DTP is given as:

  • at 2 months of age - first dose (DTwP),
  • in the 3-4th month of life - second dose,
  • at 5-6 months of age - third dose,
  • at 16-18 months of age - fourth, supplementary dose,
  • At 6 and 14 years of age, DTaP is boosted.

DTP vaccine: preparation for vaccination

It is always the doctor who decides about vaccinating a child. Before giving the vaccine, he must make sure that the child is he althy, that a long time has passed since any previous infection, the body has recovered and responds correctly to the vaccination. Some children with other diseases, such as diabetes or kidney failure, cannot be immunized at all. But those with well-controlled epilepsy, cerebral palsy or Down syndrome, for example, can.

If an adverse reaction occurred during the administration of the first dose of the vaccine, e.g. hypersensitivity to any ingredient , the child should not receive the next one. Parents who want to spare their children the pain and stress associated with the injection can use an anesthetic cream with lidocaine (e.g. Emla) about an hour earlier.

hypersensitivity to the vaccine components can be manifested in the following forms:

  • rash, itching;
  • face swelling;
  • difficulty breathing and swallowing;
  • drop in blood pressure;
  • loss of consciousness.

DTP vaccine: possible side effects

NOP or adverse post-vaccination reaction can apply to any drug, on the DTP vaccine leaflet you will also find a whole list of possible side effects that appear from 48 hours to 7 days after vaccination, including:

  • swelling and redness at the injection site - this is a fairly common reaction in roughly half of children;
  • high fever - occurs in 1-3% of children within 48 hours after vaccination;
  • sleepiness or, on the contrary - excessive agitation, anxiety;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • convulsions with or without fever - within 24 hours of vaccination;
  • so-called crying inconsolably for at least 3 hours within 48 hours of vaccination;
  • hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode - the child is pale, flaccid, absent;
  • shockanaphylactic;
  • neurological disorders;
  • pallor, cyanosis;
  • loss of desire.

For safety reasons, your child should be under medical supervision for 30 minutes after vaccination.

Important

The DTP vaccine contains thiomersal (a preservative), which may cause allergic reactions. Be sure to tell your doctor if your baby has had or has an allergic reaction. He should also be informed if there has been any medical disturbance after a previous administration of the vaccine.

All NOPs should be reported to the Department of Monitoring Adverse Effects of Medicinal Products, Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products, Al. Jerozolimskie 181C, 02-222 Warsaw, phone: + 48 22 49 21 301, fax: + 48 22 49 21 309, e-mail: [email protected].

DTP vaccine: what does it protect against?

  • Diphtheria

Diphtheria, or diphtheria, is caused by a bacterium called coryneform diphtheria. It causes laryngitis and makes breathing and swallowing much more difficult due to the swelling of the submandibular lymph nodes. A raid appears in the throat, which may take the form of a membrane, and hyperemia appears around it. Speech becomes dummy and the chin and neck are swollen and swollen - the so-called neck of the emperor. In addition, the whole body can be poisoned by diphtheria toxin, the heart rate increases, heart failure and inflammation of the heart muscle appear, nerve damage can even lead to death. Despite treatment, 10-20% of children die.

  • Whooping cough

Whooping cough, also called whooping cough, is caused by the whooping cough bacillus. The disease manifests itself as a characteristic, paroxysmal, exhausting cough, sometimes leading to vomiting. In adulthood, the disease is undoubtedly troublesome, it may, for example, make it almost impossible to sleep, but still "passable" - after about 6 weeks it subsides. However, in children, especially young babies, it is very dangerous. Out of exhaustion, they may develop convulsions, persistent coughing causes choking, vomiting, and apnea. Hypoxia can damage the respiratory system as well as the brain and, unfortunately, sometimes death.

  • Tetanus

Tetanus is caused by the tetanus rod, which produces a powerful toxin. The spores of this bacterium are found in the ground, in dust, in the silt of rivers and ponds, on old, rusty objects. A small, crawling child, for example in the garden, is at risk of being injured, and bacteria can enter the body through damaged skin. The disease initially causes trismus, athen severe contractions of other muscles in the body, sometimes even causing bone fractures. The mortality rate for this disease is 30%.

Child vaccinations - contraindications

There are few contraindications to vaccinations. One of them is active tuberculosis, HIV infection, inherited immunity disorders. However, it often happens that even with such diseases, contraindications to vaccination may be temporary or only apply to certain types of vaccines.

Category:

Immune system