Education and Health Child

The purpose of this article is to provide the necessary information on vaccination in children and the diseases they preventable. Recall that the staff of vaccination and your family pediatrician are always available to go into that and clarify all doubts.

Index of diseases:

- Poliomyelitis
- Diphtheria and Tetanus
- Hepatitis B
- Pertussis
- Haemophilus influenzae type b
- Measles
- Mumps

- Rubella
- Pneumococcal
- Meningococcal
- Varicella
- Useful if after vaccination …

POLIOMYELITIS

What is polio?

Polio is an infectious disease caused by three different types of viruses that enter the body primarily through the digestive system. This disease is very dangerous because, in severe cases, can cause irreversible paralysis, usually of the limbs and sometimes death. Unfortunately there are no medicines to cure this disease once it has developed, the only real possibility to prevent these serious health consequences is represented by prevention through vaccination.
In Italy, vaccination before it was adopted (Act of 1966), occurred more than 6,000 cases of polio in 1958 and about 3,000 cases a year in the sixties, the last case was registered in 1983.
The mass vaccination could eliminate polio in most countries, but in some developing countries the disease is still present.
As long as polio will not be defeated throughout the world, the risk that the virus could fall in our country is always possible.
For this reason it is important to continue to protect children through vaccination against poliomyelitis.

The polio vaccine

The polio vaccine (also called “Salk” or IPV) contains the killed virus polio (inactivated) and is administered by injection intramuscularly or subcutaneously. The full course of polio vaccination involves the administration of 4 doses.
The vaccine formulation is available in single or variously combined with other vaccines.
The vaccine used previously, containing live attenuated virus, called Sabin, was finally abandoned in 2002 and replaced by this vaccine inactivated enhanced very effectively and without serious side effects.

When you need to postpone

The polio vaccination should be temporarily postponed if the child has an acute illness with fever or general disorders considered clinically important.

When not to vaccinate

The Salk vaccine should not be given if the child has experienced serious allergic reactions to substances contained in the vaccine or after previous administration of that vaccine.

Side effects

This vaccine is well tolerated.
The polio vaccine, like any foreign substance to the body, may, rarely, allergic reactions specific.

Diphtheria and tetanus

What is diphtheria?

Diphtheria is a serious infectious disease caused by a substance (toxin) produced by a microorganism called Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which is transmitted mainly through droplets of saliva.
The diphtheria toxin causes severe lesions in many organs including the heart, kidneys, nervous system, the training in the nose, throat and larynx and paralysis of special membranes may lead to drooping veil of suffocation. Approximately 5-10 cases per 100 can be fatal even if treated properly.
In Italy, in early 1900, were recorded each year in children 20-30 thousand cases of diphtheria and about 1600 deaths. After the introduction of vaccination against diphtheria, established by law in Italy in 1939, cases of disease to become diminished in recent years, sporadic.
The last case, with fatal consequences, occurred in 1991 in an unvaccinated children.
In the ’90s, in Eastern European countries, for not properly conducting vaccination campaigns, there have been thousands of cases of diphtheria.

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is a serious disease caused by a substance (toxin) produced by a microorganism (Clostridium tetani) which can enter the body through a wound too trivial. This tetanus toxin cause strong muscle contractions that can lead to death when affecting the respiratory muscles. In all cases, despite treatment, this disease requires a long hospitalization for more intensive care wards.
The law of 1968 provided for the vaccination of all newborns using a vaccine against tetanus associated with the diphtheria.
Every year in Italy fall ill with tetanus approximately one hundred adults not vaccinated.

The vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus

The vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus is prepared by appropriately altering the tetanus and diphtheria toxins so that they can no longer be dangerous, but are equally capable of stimulating the body to produce defenses against the two diseases.
The vaccine is given as an intramuscular injection.
The tetanus and diphtheria vaccine is also available in multiple formulations, combined with pertussis vaccine, poliomyelitis, antihemophilic, hepatitis B variously combined.

When you need to postpone

This vaccination should be temporarily delayed when the child has an acute illness with fever, or general problems considered clinically important.

When not to vaccinate

There are no special health conditions that preclude the implementation of this vaccination, except for previous severe allergic reactions to substances contained in the vaccine or previous administration of that vaccine.
Even pregnant women can be vaccinated.

Side effects

This vaccine is well tolerated and usually does not cause reactions.
can occur within 48 hours of vaccination, a transient irritant reaction at the point where the vaccine was injected. This reaction can manifest itself with swelling, redness, pain.
Fever may occur, mostly minor.
Other side effects such as neuritis (inflammation of nerve endings) may rarely occur in adults, mostly when subjected to a large number of booster doses. It is therefore recommended to keep the book with him (or certificate) of vaccinations to avoid unnecessary doses have recourse to the emergency room.
Like any foreign substance to the body, this vaccine may, rarely, allergic reaction specific.

HEPATITIS B

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a contagious infectious disease that affects the liver and is caused by a virus that enters the body through contact with infected body fluids (blood and its derivatives, organic secretions containing blood, semen and vaginal mucus) sick people or healthy carriers (those HBsAg positive).
The disease has a long incubation time (45-160 days, average 120) and can manifest itself in different ways and in 65-70% of cases the person has no disorder (asymptomatic forms). Frequently in younger children there is a mild disease with malaise, weakness, joint pain, nausea, vomiting and fever with or without jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Rarely, especially in adults, acute infection can be fatal.
The most important complication of hepatitis B and its chronicity. This happens with different frequencies depending on the age of the subject: chronic infection develops in 80% of children are infected at birth by her mother, sick or a carrier, and decreases to 10% in older children and in adults.
Chronic hepatitis presents the risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. In addition, individuals with chronic infection are a potential source of infection.

The vaccine against hepatitis B

The hepatitis B vaccine currently in use contains only a fraction of the virus obtained in the laboratory with sophisticated genetic engineering techniques and therefore is not quite capable of causing it. disease, but is able to immunize against it. The vaccine is highly effective (it is higher in children and adults) and provides a long-term protection. The cycle involves the administration of three vaccine doses, a specific timetable that begins at birth is expected for children born to mothers carrying the hepatitis B virus AI Currently there are no booster doses. The vaccine is administered by intramuscular injection. The administration of this vaccine has been planned in Italy for all newborns since 1991. The vaccine also is offered free to persons belonging to certain categories for professional reasons (eg. Doctors and nurses) or personal (eg. Cohabitants of a person with this virus, ie HBsAg positive) are at particular risk of contracting this infection.

When you need to postpone

This vaccination should be temporarily delayed when the child has an acute illness with fever or general disorders considered clinically important.

When not to vaccinate

Vaccination should not be given to those submitting severe allergic reactions to substances contained in the vaccine (eg yeast) or previous administration of that vaccine.

Side effects

The hepatitis B vaccine is well tolerated at the injection site is possible the appearance of transient pain, redness and minor swelling.
The effects generally very rare, there may be high fever, headache, nausea, dizziness, muscle and joint pain of moderate intensity and short duration. Even more rarely have been reported, only against adolescents and adults, peripheral neuritis.
Like any foreign substance to the body, this vaccine may, rarely, allergic reactions specific.

Pertussis

What is pertussis?

Pertussis is an infectious disease caused by a bacteria (Bordetella pertussis) which is transmitted by air and, before the introduction of vaccination, manifested with epidemics every 3-4 years.
Early symptoms are similar to those of a cold with malaise, fatigue, slight increase in temperature, sneezing and coughing, especially at night. These disorders generally last 1-2 weeks. After appearing the typical coughing fits, for which the disease is also known as cough “bad” or “whooping” or “mules” or “dog”. Each tether is composed of a series of rapid coughing and choking that make breathing difficult and end with the characteristic “Scream” inspiration. Often the attack causes vomiting, which can also compromise the nutrition of the child. This phase of the disease lasts 4-6 weeks and is followed by a convalescence of several weeks in which the coughing spells are less frequent and intense.
The evolution of whooping cough is usually favorable, although some complications are possible, such as laryngitis, pneumonia, convulsions, and asphyxiation with brain damage. The disease is particularly dangerous and serious in the 1st year of life, as in newborns and infants is often complicated with real crises of suffocation and breathing difficulties that forced the hospitalization. The children are also more frequent complications that can cause brain damage and permanent, in severe cases, even death. At all ages, however, pertussis causes significant disruption to the child for coughing limiting play and movement, inhibit feeding and sleep.

The vaccine against pertussis

The pertussis vaccine, also known as “acellular” because only consist of some parts of the organism highly purified, is given as an intramuscular injection in the same vial and combined with other vaccines.
Complete the basic cycle involves the administration of three doses is also recommended a booster dose of the fifth to sixth year and the fourteenth to fifteenth year.
Vaccination is recommended as early as 3 months of age to ensure child protection in the first year of life, the period of greatest danger of the disease.

When you need to postpone

Vaccination against pertussis should be temporarily delayed when the child has an acute illness with fever or general disorder considered clinically important. The medical vaccinators will consider postponing the implementation of pertussis vaccination in case of neurological disorders whose cause has not yet been sufficiently clarified, until clarification of the definition of the problem or diagnosis.

When not to vaccinate

If your child suffers from a serious neurological disease that can worsen over time, your doctor will vaccinators in each case, whether it is advisable for this vaccination.
The vaccine can be given to children who have experienced in the past “febrile seizures” with the caveat to check the possible occurrence of fever.
Should not be vaccinated subjects who presented with severe allergic reactions to substances contained in the vaccine or severe reactions to previous administration of that vaccine.

Side effects

Can be observed at the injection site redness, swelling and pain within 24-48 hours; reactions are generally mild and transient.
In the first two days after the injection is also possible that the child has fever (usually mild, rarely higher), prolonged crying, irritability or drowsiness. These general reactions are transitory and, as mentioned, is rarely observed today with the use of acellular vaccines.
General reactions considered “serious” (eg similar episodes to collapse, convulsions) have become exceptional with acellular vaccines currently in use. These reactions leave no consequences but require careful evaluation by your doctor vaccinated before continuing the cycle with component pertussis vaccine.
Like any foreign substance to the body, this vaccine may, rarely, allergic reactions specific.

Haemophilus influenzae type B

What is Haemophilus influenzae type b?

This bacterium, not to be confused with viruses that cause! ‘Influence and which for convenience we will call simply haemophilia, is usually in the throat or nose where it does not give any problems and is transmitted from person to person by air. Almost all children during the first 5-6 years of life sooner or later come into contact with hemophilia. Usually a result of this contact, they do not suffer any damage and develop antibodies that protect them in succeeding ages. However, in some cases, hemophilia is not limited to localize in the throat but managed to reach the blood and, through it to localize in other organs where it causes serious diseases. Among these the most common is meningitis. This disease is always serious and can leave permanent damage such as deafness, paralysis, more or less severe mental retardation.
Less frequently, the germ can cause epiglottitis (severe and sudden inflammation of the upper airways with symptoms of suffocation) and sepsis (widespread infection in the blood).
These diseases, known as “invasive forms, almost exclusively affects children under 5 years old, has reported an increased risk for children who attend community (eg childcare).

The vaccine Hemophilia

The vaccine is the only way to prevent infections “invasive” haemophilia. It contains a part of the microorganism linked to a protein in order to be able to induce protection even in the child a few months.
The vaccine is highly effective in preventing disease is to eliminate the carriers, ie, healthy children who, once infected, allowing the movement of the bacterium and maintenance of cases of disease.
The vaccine is given as an intramuscular injection and is available as single or combined with other vaccines.
The number of doses required depends on the age of the child in the first year of age are required three doses, after the year is only one dose.

When you need to postpone

This vaccine, like any other, should be temporarily delayed when the child has an acute illness with fever or general disorders considered clinically important.

When not to vaccinate

There are clinical situations that do not allow the implementation of this vaccination except for very serious allergic reactions to substances contained in the vaccine or previous administration of that vaccine.

Side effects

The injection site is possible the appearance of pain, swelling, redness, phenomena usually mild and of short duration.
Rare general symptoms may be represented by fever, usually less than 38.5 ° C, mild irritability or drowsiness. Like any foreign substance to the body, this vaccine may, rarely, allergic reactions specific.

THE NATIONAL PLAN FOR ELIMINATION OF MEASLES AND RUBELLA CONGENITAL

Measles is a disease that can be defeated through vaccination of all children, as happened in Italy for polio, diphtheria, and even eliminated forever, like smallpox. In Italy, however, still occur periodically epidemics unvaccinated children. The last major epidemic occurred in 2002, with over 40,000 cases and 6 deaths.
The latest national survey on the level of vaccine protection of Italian children (ICON Survey Institute of Health, 2003) showed that still 23% of children are not vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella .
The elimination of measles and congenital rubella is the main priority in the field of vaccine preventable diseases in Italy.

Thus, in 2003 the regions and autonomous provinces, the Ministry of Health Institute of Health, together with representatives of Italian children and hygienists are committed to prepare and activate the “National Plan against measles and congenital rubella syndrome “that has as main goal to prevent a child can still die from measles or born with serious malformations due to rubella acquired by the mother during pregnancy.

The vaccination strategy of the Plan includes the following points:

1) each year to vaccinate 95% of children younger than 2 years;
2) to vaccinate children older than 2 years of age, adolescents are still not protected against measles and rubella, and all children who attend elementary and middle schools during the school years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005;
3) introduce a second dose of vaccine trivalent measles-mumps-rubella.

They also proposed strategies to eliminate rubella, with actions aimed at women of childbearing age or pregnant and personnel exposed to high occupational risk.
In accordance with the provisions of the European Region, the ultimate objective of the Plan is to eliminate measles and congenital rubella from Italy by 2007.
The commitment of Italian regions reach this milestone by taking all measures necessary to the success of the program, such as the creation of computerized immunization registries, improving the technical-professional health workers involved, improved surveillance of measles, and adverse reactions to rubella vaccine, the activation of information and communication campaigns directed at, the population was established with the agreement between State and Regions (State-Regions Conference, resolution of 13 November 2003, OJ No 297, 23 December 2003).

Vaccine “triple” against measles, mumps and rubella

This vaccine is made by the association in the same vial of the three strains and live “attenuated” that is subject to appropriate modifications that make them incapable of causing disease and equally capable of stimulating the production of antibodies effective.
The use of this term “triple” is recommended for several reasons:

1) is an advantage because the child is vaccinated simultaneously against all three diseases with one injection
2) is a benefit to the community because the reduced movement of virus indirectly protects the other older children and adults.

The vaccine is given in the upper arm subcutaneously.
The vaccine is recommended for all newborns, since completion of the first year of life (365 days of life onwards). The vaccine can be administered simultaneously with other vaccines (hexavalent varicella).
The vaccination with “triple” may also be performed in patients who have already had the disease naturally (perhaps without their knowledge, as is frequently the case for rubella and mumps) or have already been vaccinated against these diseases.
Precautions, contraindications and possible side effects of this vaccine are those in the cards that describe the three individual vaccines. A second dose of vaccine a few years away is useful to immunize those few children who may not have answered the first vaccination. (5%).

MEASLES

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted through the respiratory tract. It presents with high fever, persistent cough, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and a typical rash (rash).
The child is always shown from measles, which is rightly considered the most serious among the “common” childhood diseases because of its acute symptoms and possible complications.
These include: ear infections, laryngitis, pneumonia, thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), seizures, and especially encephalitis. This occurs on average 1 in 1000-3000 children suffering from measles and is in a severe inflammation of the brain that can be fatal (15% of cases) or leave permanent results (40% of cases) such as seizures , deafness and mental retardation. More rarely it is possible that irreversible neurological damage manifests itself at a distance of 5-15 years from disease due to persistent infection linked to the measles virus (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, SSPE).

The measles vaccine

The measles vaccine is made from live but weakened measles virus to make it incapable of causing disease while retaining the ability to stimulate production of protective antibodies.
Vaccination against measles can be done separately or simultaneously with rubella and mumps vaccine (vaccine “triple”) or other combinations, but in any case, the vaccine is administered by injection which is made subcutaneously in the upper arm. It is not always commercially available formulation of the single vaccine.
Measles vaccination is recommended after the completion of the first year of life (365 days onwards), simultaneously with other vaccinations.
In any case, at any age after the first year, it is useful to undergo vaccination, if not yet contracted the disease.
The vaccine is extremely effective because it causes the appearance of protective antibodies in 95% of children vaccinated and this percentage is even higher after a second dose. The protection appears already after 7-10 days of vaccination. Because of its rapid action is the measles vaccine can prevent disease after infection, unless the administration takes place within the first 2-3 days after contact with the sick child.

When you need to postpone

The circumstances make it advisable to postpone this vaccination are:
1) acute illness with fever or general disorder considered clinically important;
2) Recent administration of immunoglobulins, blood or plasma products may hinder a good response to the vaccine;
3) Recent administration of another vaccine made from live viruses.

When not to vaccinate

The measles vaccine, single or combined, should not be given in the following cases:
1) serious defect in the immune system due to disease or therapies
2) serious allergic reactions to constituents of the vaccine (eg, neomycin or gelatin) or previous administration of that vaccine.

Side effects

The measles vaccine, both in singular and combined with rubella and mumps, is well tolerated.
Are possible local reactions (redness, swelling) is the point where the injection.
At a distance of 7-14 days after vaccination is possible that the child has fever, usually modest and of short duration (1-2 days), which in 5-15% of vaccinees can reach 39 ° C. Sometimes you may experience the signs of common colds or a disease similar to measles attenuated, with reddish spots on the skin, cough and red eyes, short and rapid spontaneous resolution, not contagious and does not cause complications. Major adverse reactions such as thrombocytopenia (ie, decrease in platelet count) are very rare and favorable evolution, while the natural disease can cause serious and permanent complications. Like any foreign substance to the body, this vaccine may, rarely, allergic reactions specific.

Parota

What is mumps?

Mumps, commonly called “mumps” is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted by air. It usually manifests itself with a front of the ear swelling caused by inflammation of a salivary gland called the parotid, one or both sides. other salivary glands may swell and often occur simultaneously headache, fever more or less elevated, and abdominal pain. The importance of this disease stems from its potential complications: encephalitis, the organ of hearing loss, pancreatitis and after puberty, and ovarian orchitis (inflammation of the testes and ovaries) with risk of infertility.

The mumps vaccine

The mumps vaccine is made from live but weakened virus so that it is unable to cause disease while retaining the ability to stimulate production of protective antibodies. Vaccination against mumps can be performed alone or simultaneously with measles and rubella (vaccine “triple”). In both cases, the vaccine is administered by injection subcutaneously into the upper arm. It is not always commercially available formulation of the single vaccine.
The mumps vaccine is recommended for all children in combination with measles and rubella from completion of first year (365 days onwards), simultaneously with other vaccinations.
The vaccine may still be administered at any age and vaccination of a person already immune (for previous vaccination or to have passed the disease) is well tolerated.

When you need to refer

The circumstances make it advisable to postpone this vaccination are:
1) acute illness with fever or general disorder considered clinically important;
2) Recent administration of immunoglobulins, blood or plasma products may hinder a good response to the vaccine;
3) Recent administration of another vaccine made from live viruses.

When not to vaccinate

The mumps vaccine, single or combined, should not be given in the following circumstances:
1) serious defect in the immune system due to disease or therapies;
2) serious allergic reactions to constituents of the vaccine (eg, neomycin or gelatin) or previous administration of that vaccine.

Side effects

Side effects attributed to the mumps vaccine are rare distance of days it is possible that the child shows a slight swelling of the parotid gland and fever of short duration, exceptionally benign meningeal inflammation to development.
Like any foreign substance to the body this vaccine may, rarely, allergic reactions specific.

RUBELLA

What is rubella?

Rubella is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted by air.
If contracted after birth, looks like a benign course with mild disease that presents with high fever, swollen glands (especially those of neck and neck) and rash (redness) of short duration . Occasionally children may be observed small skin hemorrhages, adolescents and adults predominantly female joint pain.
Major complications are exceptional.
Rubella is a serious illness if contracted for the first time during pregnancy. In this case, there is a real likelihood that the virus reaches the baby through the placenta and cause serious damage such as abortion and congenital malformations of varying severity of the heart, brain, eyes and hearing.

The vaccine against rubella

The rubella vaccine is made from live but attenuated rubella virus to make it incapable of causing disease while retaining the ability to stimulate antibody production
protective.

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