After talking a few days ago about the tetanus vaccine, we continue today with the series of entries in which we explain everything related to childhood vaccines. Today we are going to talk about the diphtheria vaccine, which we could consider sister of tetanus because it is almost always linked to it.
The diphtheria vaccine is given in the same presentations as tetanus. Babies are given the hexavalent vaccine, administered at 2, 4 and 6 months, which protects against six diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, polio, whooping cough or pertussis, the Haemophilus influenzae type B and hepatitis B.
At 18 months it is administered within the pentavalent vaccine, which serves to prevent five diseases, which are the same as hexavalent but without the dose of hepatitis B. Then, at 4 to 6 years, it is administered within the trivalent vaccine. , next to tetanus and whooping cough.
Finally, at 11-12, it is administered in the Td vaccine, together with tetanus (now you understand that of sisters, they always go together), in a vaccine that as we explained used to be administered from 7 years (when a child or girl had never been vaccinated of tetanus or lacked doses), but that will soon be only for adults when the trivalent is recommended at 11-12 years, in order to help control the latest outbreaks in the country.
What is diphtheria?
The diphtheria It is a contagious respiratory disease that is caused by bacterial infection Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which produces such an alteration of the airways that it can cause suffocation who suffers it.
It is spread by respiratory tract, by respiratory droplets exhaled when breathing and speaking, by people with the disease or carriers of the bacteria without symptoms.
Once contagion occurs and there is infection the bacteria starts to generate toxins that spread to organs such as the heart and the brain, causing irreparable damage.
In Europe it is a disease that almost does not occur, however a few years ago there were outbreaks in Russia for the fall in the percentage of vaccinations and of course, as long as the disease is not considered eradicated, which is not the case, the vaccine will continue to be administered for that a similar outbreak does not occur.
How to prevent the disease
The only way to prevent diphtheria is to avoid overcrowded environments (it sounds absurd, as if people who live overcrowded like to live like this), that there is a good general hygiene Y the child is vaccinated.
If you are in contact with someone who has diphtheria, you should see a doctor immediately. They may prescribe antibiotics with the intention of trying to minimize or prevent infection and, in addition, it is very possible that they will administer the diphtheria vaccine if it has not yet been administered.
Where do you get the vaccine?
Babies, that is, when placed at 2, 4 and 6 months, are given intramuscularly (inside the muscle) in the leg. In the quadriceps, to be more exact. Formerly it was administered in the buttock, but it has been seen that the absorption is worse, with muscles such as deltoids (in the shoulder, but not recommended in babies) and the quadriceps being of choice.
Side effects of diphtheria vaccine
The vaccine of the diphtheria, when attached to other vaccines, can cause side effects derived from diphtheria, but also from the vaccines that accompanies it. The dose of diphtheria administered can produce swelling of the area and pain and, rarely, a skin rash that can last 24 hours after administration.
The tetanus portion of the vaccine produces the same side effects, while the whooping cough part can cause local heat in the area of the puncture and tenderness. In addition, whooping cough is discouraged if the child has suffered a seizure episode before receiving the vaccine, although this will be extended when we talk about the pertussis vaccine.
When accompanied by hepatitis B, restlessness can occur, and if accompanied by Haemophilus influenza type B it may give some fever. Although in general, any vaccine can be accompanied by fever.
The occurrence of brain inflammation after the vaccine, but the incidence is very low (1 in 110,000 cases) and it is not known whether it is a reaction to the vaccine or if it is caused by other substances or infections.
Is it related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?
As we explained in the previous post, it is said that the diphtheria and tetanus vaccine, combined with the other vaccines, could be related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But nevertheless, there is no scientific evidence that proves that there is a relationship between one thing and another.
The myth is still alive because the first dose is given at two months, when the risk of SIDS is very high.
Photos | Tom & Katrien, Cory Doctorow on Flickr More information | Medline Plus, VaccinesAEP In Babies and more | 180,000 children die each year from neonatal tetanus, "Vaccines are very effective in preventing disease." Interview with Carlos González (I) and (II), Ten things we should know about vaccines
