DTP vaccine must be given
to babies to provide protection against diseases such as Diptheria, Tetanus,
and Pertusis. Read on to know the importance of DTP vaccination.
DTP
vaccination is probably the very first one which is given to babies. This is
the vaccination against diseases like Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertusis
(DTaP). Tetanus is basically a fatal disease and the most frightening
fact about it is that it can act real quickly and kill the patient even before
the body can respond naturally to the virus.
Every year,
almost 1 million such cases of tetanus are seen and among them, 300,000-500,000
patients die. This disease is a global one because the tetanus virus or spores
are available everywhere. However, because the vaccination system is truly
advanced in the UK, tetanus cases are very less there and only around 10
tetanus cases can be seen annually.
Tetanus has high chances
of occurring in the baby whose mother was not DTP vaccinated. It can
also happen if the patient gets an animal bite, abrasions, burns
or surgery. Hence, the next time you get a deep cut or wound, make sure that
you are vaccinated with DTP or DTaP.
Symptoms of Tetanus
Toxin
If a person is infected with
the tetanus toxin, he or she will get high fever with sweat. Severe muscle
contraction is also one of the major symptoms of tetanus. Rapid heart rate,
high blood pressure, and breakage of bones might also take place due to the
contraction of muscles. The spasms in the body and the vocal cord along with
problems in breathing are the other very common symptoms of this
disease.
Who Should Get
Vaccinated?
Infants and kids below seven years
of age should be given this vaccine.
Those who belong to the age group
of seven to nine years and are incompletely vaccinated against tetanus should
be given the DTaP vaccine.
Adults belonging to the age group
of 19-64 years can also get a DTaP vaccination if their past DTaP vaccination
happened more than 10 years before.
Women who are less than 65 years
of age should get a vaccination if she has the chances of getting
pregnant.
Women who didn’t get a DTaP
vaccine before in her life should get a tetanus
vaccination.
Who
Should Not Get DTP
Vaccination?
If the person is prone to allergic
reactions post any kind of vaccinations then he or she is not suitable
for a DTP vaccine.
Someone with a history of
encephalopathy (seizures or coma) should not take a DTP vaccine.
People with any kind of brain
related issues which often get serious should not get this
vaccination.
Side Effects of DTP
Vaccination
Generally, the DTP or
DTaP vaccination is 95% effective and prevents the patient from all the three
diseases, i.e. diphtheria, tetanus and Pertusis. However, the protection rate
is generally higher for tetanus and lower for Pertusis. This immunity will last
for 10 years and hence a booster vaccine is needed after every 10 years in
order to maintain the immunity of a person. If a person is partially immunised,
he/she is prone to get diphtheria but it will not be that severe. Apart from
all these, DTP
vaccination doesn’t have many violent side
effects.
Symptoms
of the
Disease
Muscles get contracted or the
patient feels spasms around the wound.
The DTP vaccine was
introduced in 1960 and hence, those born before 1960 might have not got the
vaccine in their childhood. So, they are prone to the disease. Those who have
not completed the full vaccination
course or the ones using intravenous drugs might be affected easily.
Poverty-stricken people who live in places where vaccinations are not available
are also susceptible.
So if you have small baby, you must
make sure that all the DTP vaccinations are given on time. You must consult
your baby’s paediatrician if you have missed or not given DTP vaccination to
your baby.
What will happen if pregnant woman is
not vaccinated against DTP? What is the schedule for giving DTP vaccination to
babies? Are there any side effects of DTP vaccine? Discuss
here.
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