A vaccine that can prevent 3 diseases, new parents should not miss it!

Author: Wang Lin, Chief Physician, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics

Vice Chairman of the Children's Health Branch of the Chinese Association of Preventive Medicine

Reviewer: Dong Jian, Chief Physician, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University

Vice Chairman of the Science Popularization Branch of the Chinese Medical Association

My baby is three months old, it’s time to get the DPT vaccine!

At this time, many new parents are confused about what the DTP vaccine is and what diseases it prevents.

Below we will introduce you to a series of relevant knowledge about the diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine.

1. What is the DTP vaccine?

DTP vaccine is the general name for the combined vaccine of pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus, which is a triple vaccine.

The DTP vaccine is mainly used to prevent pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus, which are prone to cause serious infections in infancy.

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Whooping cough is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. It is highly contagious and can cause pneumonia and encephalitis. It is called whooping cough because it may not be cured after a hundred days of coughing. If a baby is infected with whooping cough during infancy, it is very serious and is the main cause of death in infants.

Diphtheria is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by infection with Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Common symptoms include sore throat, hoarseness, fatigue, etc. It is an infectious disease that poses a great threat to children's health.

Tetanus is a disease in which Clostridium tetani invades the human body through skin or mucous membrane wounds, grows and multiplies in an oxygen-deficient environment, produces toxins, and causes symptoms of neurological poisoning characterized by muscle rigidity and paroxysmal spasms. The patient may eventually die from suffocation or heart failure, and has a high mortality rate.

Therefore, the DTP vaccine is a very critical and important vaccine in infancy. It is related to the baby's healthy growth and life safety. Parents must vaccinate their babies in time.

The basic DTP vaccine consists of three injections, which are given at 3, 4, and 5 months of age; a booster injection is given at 1 and a half years of age.

2. What should you pay attention to before and after giving your baby the DPT vaccine?

Before parents take their baby to get the diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine, they should pay attention to the baby's physical health. There are some precautions that parents should know, otherwise it will cause harm to the baby's body.

First, babies with neurological diseases, including epilepsy, convulsions, encephalitis, polio, etc. should not be vaccinated;

Second, babies with allergic or spastic constitutions should not be vaccinated;

Third, babies with organic diseases of major organs, including heart, liver, kidney diseases and active pulmonary tuberculosis, should not be vaccinated;

Fourth, babies with acute infectious diseases, acute severe infections, fever, and rash on the whole body should not be vaccinated;

Fifth, if your baby is allergic to vaccine ingredients or adjuvants, do not vaccinate;

Sixth, the DTP vaccine is administered on the upper arm, and there should be no rash or local ulceration on the upper arm;

These are the most important contraindications for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccination.

Before receiving the DTP vaccine, it is recommended that parents give their baby a bath, because the baby cannot be bathed within 24 hours after the vaccination.

After receiving the diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine, there are some precautions that parents need to pay attention to.

First, do not take your baby out of the hospital immediately after vaccination. You need to be observed in the hospital for 30 minutes before leaving;

Second, do not allow your baby to do strenuous exercise within 2-3 days after vaccination, keep the skin at the injection site clean, and do not let your baby scratch it;

Third, do not feed your baby irritating food, drink more warm water, eat more fruits and vegetables;

Fourth, after vaccination, let your baby go to crowded places as little as possible, and never combine other infections.

3. What adverse reactions will occur when babies receive the diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine?

When you get the fourth dose of the DTP vaccine, the side effects of the fourth dose are relatively large. After the first three doses, the body will have a stronger reaction, which will be manifested after the fourth dose. If there are other infections at the same time, such as colds or other problems, the adverse reactions will increase significantly.

In clinical practice, we have indeed seen children with very high fever, above 39°C, or local redness, swelling, and nodules, and a large lump on the upper arm. What should we do at this time?

If the body temperature exceeds 38.5℃, antipyretic drugs should be given in time, because babies aged 1 and a half are particularly prone to convulsions due to high fever.

If local redness, swelling, and nodules appear, apply cold compresses within 48 hours, such as using raw potato slices; after more than 48 hours, you can apply hot compresses to reduce local adverse reactions.

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Pay attention to your baby's behavior. If you see any abnormal reactions such as high fever, coma, convulsions, etc., take your baby to see a doctor immediately.