Hemophilus influenzae infection is a dangerous disease, the insidiousness of which is disguised as a common acute respiratory infection, with corresponding and not particularly alarming symptoms.
Complications include the development of an inflammatory process in the lungs, damage to the bronchi and meningitis. Less common consequences are the formation purulent inflammation subcutaneous fatty tissue of the face, epiglottitis ( inflammatory process epiglottis), arthritis (inflammation of the joints) and sepsis.
For children, hemophilus influenzae represents great danger, since the causative agent of the disease can long time be on toys and other objects that babies often put in their mouths. Haemophilus influenzae spreads by airborne droplets. Vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae can protect a child from this dangerous disease.
The article provides information about currently approved drugs for vaccination, indications and contraindications for vaccinations and possible complications after them.
This is an infectious disease caused by a special pathogen - Haemophilus influenzae. The most dangerous bacterium is Haemophilus influenzae, which belongs to type B.
Synonyms that are used all over the world in medical practice:
- Haemophilus influenzae.
- Afanasyev-Pfeiffer wand.
Reference . According to medical research, such an infection is found in 5-25% of representatives of the human population, while we draw attention to the fact that in many groups of children carriage can be at least 40%. Children under the age of five are most often infected.
The immunologist explains. Haemophilus influenzae is a so-called opportunistic microflora, and if it does not penetrate from the nasopharynx into the bloodstream or into the lungs, the disease does not develop. Otherwise, the Afanasyev-Pfeiffer bacillus causes disease varying degrees severity, and then, often, severe complications. By official statistics Before the introduction of mass vaccination, meningitis was regularly reported in children under five years of age in the United States (about 20,000 cases annually, 1,000 of which resulted in death).
Meningitis is a lesion meninges(head and spinal cord). In addition, the spread of Haemophilus influenzae leads to a number of pathologies:
- Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia)
- Breathing problems due to laryngeal edema.
- Damage to joints and the musculoskeletal system as a whole.
- Heart diseases.
- In some cases, it can lead to death.
How to detect hemophilus influenzae?
It is difficult to detect an infection due to the high cost of the procedure, so it is often quite difficult to establish a diagnosis.
Attention! The Afanasyev-Pfeiffer wand is resistant to modern antibiotics, therefore, it is pointless to carry out treatment using such means.
Vaccination against hemophilus influenzae infection.
Haemophilus influenzae infection. Vaccination calendar
Vaccination course. Child age:
- three months.
Then revaccination is carried out for children at risk:
- at 4.5 months
- in six months
- at 18 months
Vaccines authorized in the Russian Federation:
- PENTAXIM.
- HYBERIX.
Memo for parents. If a three-time course of vaccinations against Haemophilus influenzae has not been carried out, then after one year of life it is enough to carry out one vaccination in order to form a stable immunity.
Place of administration of hemophilus influenzae vaccination
Children under 2 years of age – hip area, anterolateral part.
Older children - in the shoulder (deltoid muscle).
What to do if the established vaccination dates are missed?
Haemophilus influenzae, a bacterium that causes dangerous diseases, poses a serious threat only to children under the age of five. After five years, this vaccination is not carried out.
Rules:
- When the first two vaccinations are administered before the age of one year, the third vaccination is given six months later.
- If only one hemophilus inoculation is given, then after 12 months. age, a second vaccination is carried out (the minimum interval between vaccinations is 30 days).
- If up to 12 months. not a single vaccination against hemophilus influenzae infection has been given in her life; from the moment she is one year old, only one vaccination is carried out.
General properties of vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae
- Formation of stable immunity in 90-99% of cases (confirmed by antibodies in the blood, which are detected during laboratory tests).
- Reduction in the incidence of hemophilus influenzae infection in almost 90% of cases. In regions with a long tradition of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae, official figures are at least 99%.
Drug for vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae infection ACT-HIB
Created in France (Sanofi Pasteur Company). The main component is represented by a defective antigen in the form of a polysaccharide of a Haemophilus influenzae bacterium with a connection (conjugation) with a tetanus toxoid protein molecule. It is the first registered drug against Haemophilus influenzae on earth, with proven clinical effectiveness.
Main advantage:
- Possibility of use in children aged from six months to one year of age.
- Formation of stable immunity.
Complex action:
- Thanks to the transformation into a full-fledged antigen during the manufacturing process, stable immunity is formed after vaccination.
- Reduced reactogenicity of the drug and its relative safety for the body (minimum of adverse reactions).
- Obtaining a booster effect (repeated administration allows you to achieve an increased concentration of antibodies in the blood, which not only increases, but also grows exponentially).
In addition to ACT-Hib, in Russia and the countries of the former USSR three types of hemophilic influenza vaccinations are used that can provide reliable protection from Haemophilus influenzae:
- Monovaccine "Hiberix".
- Combination vaccine "Pentaxim", which includes several vaccines, including against hemophilus influenzae. It is this drug that is most used in mass vaccination carried out in state maternity hospitals, private medical centers and community clinics.
Vaccination drug against hemophilus influenzae "Hiberix"
"Hiberix" (GlaxoSmithKline Company, Belgium) is an analogue of "Act-HIB". It has a similar effect and mechanism of action. Instructions.
Vaccination drug against hemophilus influenzae "Pentaxim"
"Pentaxim" (French Company Sanofi Pasteur) is a multicomponent vaccine that provides protection against five infections simultaneously (DPT plus Haemophilus influenzae). The drug is successfully used in various medical institutions, but since it has a pertussis component, experts classify this vaccine as a more reactogenic vaccination (the negative side effect increases).
Indications for vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae infection (Afanasyev-Pfeiffer bacillus)
Children after five years of age and adults most often do not need vaccinations against hemophilus influenzae infection at all, with the exception of those at risk (determined by an infectious disease doctor or immunologist after collecting a family history).
Children over the age of five, as well as adults who suffer from certain pathologies, are vaccinated.
Such diseases include:
- sickle cell anemia;
- confirmed diagnosis of HIV/AIDS;
- absence of spleen;
- bone marrow transplant surgery;
- course specific medicines in the presence of a malignant disease.
Attention! The list is not complete; more detailed information is provided by a pediatrician or other specialist at your place of residence.
Vaccination against hemophilus influenzae infection. Contraindications
- Allergy to the tetanus toxoid component of the vaccine, since this is an ingredient of the drug added by the manufacturer to enhance the effect.
- Allergy to the first Haemophilus influenza vaccine in the past.
- Less than six weeks of age from birth.
- History of convulsive syndrome (diagnosis established by a neurologist).
- Encephalopathy diagnosed by a neurologist.
- Negative reaction to any previous vaccination.
- Any chronic disease.
- Acute condition.
Possible complications after vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae
Any vaccine, like any other medicine, can cause adverse reactions:
- minor complications such as small increase body temperature;
- hyperemia (redness) at the injection site;
- inflammation or swelling in the injection area (one case per four vaccinations);
- a significant increase in temperature to 38.5°C or higher (one case per 20 vaccinations).
The reaction usually appears a few hours after the procedure and lasts no more than three days.
What to do if you have a severe reaction to a vaccine?
Severe and moderate reactions mean severe deviations from the normal state of health, including not only a significant increase in body temperature and severe allergies, but unusual behavior of the child.
Allergies can manifest themselves:
- difficulty breathing;
- hoarseness of voice;
- whistling in the lungs;
- severe skin rash;
- pale face;
- severe weakness;
- tachycardia (rapid heartbeat);
- dizziness, etc.
Some manifestations are observed immediately after administration of the drug, other allergic reactions may appear after 10-20 minutes or during the first day after vaccination.
If warning signs of a negative reaction to the vaccine appear, you should immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance.
Parents
- Full text scientific article You can read about hemophilus influenzae infection and vaccination.
- Dissertation on the topic of vaccination of children with various pathologies
However main danger Hib infections are not even s, but acute respiratory infections, including pneumonia and, after all, these are its forms, according to the World Health Organization and the Russian Ministry of Health, that are the most common in countries where routine vaccination against this infection is not carried out. Unfortunately, these countries still include Russia. We asked the manager to answer questions about this infection Clinical Center immunoprophylaxis of childhood infections by Professor Mikhail Petrovich KOSTINOV.
Mikhail Petrovich, what is Hib infection and why is so little known about it?
Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) infection is a group of diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b. It spreads through saliva when sneezing and coughing, as well as through toys and household items that children put in their mouths. Haemophilus influenzae can cause pneumonia, acute respiratory infections, and other diseases. Unfortunately, on a national scale in Russia they are just beginning to identify and register this infection and, accordingly, to train doctors. It is for this reason that it is relatively little known. However, there is no doubt that this problem is very relevant for our country.
How common is Haemophilus influenzae infection?
According to Russian studies, in children's groups the proportion of hemophilus influenzae carriers can reach 40%, which explains the frequent colds in children attending or starting to attend kindergartens and nurseries.
Unlike older children and adults, children under 5 years of age, due to insufficient development of the immune system, cannot independently, without vaccination, develop immunity to Hib. Therefore, sometimes they suffer this infection more than once.
How often does Haemophilus influenzae cause disease?
In Russia, HIB is one of the main causes of acute respiratory infections,
causes up to half of purulent infections, a third of pneumonia and inflammation.For whom does this infection pose the greatest threat?
All children under the age of 5 years, inclusive, are susceptible to Hib infection. First of all, those who attend a nursery or kindergarten. According to WHO, children at higher risk of developing CHIB are artificial feeding children who do not receive antibodies to this infection from their mother, children with weakened immune systems. Chronic diseases heart, lungs, weakening the immune system, also facilitate the penetration of Hib infection into the body.
How easy is CHIB to treat?
Hib infection is very difficult to treat, since this bacillus is record-breakingly resistant to antibiotics. For this reason, even timely treatment modern medicines are often ineffective. For some common drugs, such as erythromycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, the percentage of resistance of Haemophilus influenzae is 80-100%, and these are Russian data. Therefore, treatment should ideally begin with determining individual sensitivity to antibiotics.
How to protect your child from hemophilus influenzae infection?
The only simple and reliable means of preventing hemophilus influenzae infection is vaccination. Modern Hib vaccines are virtually 100% effective and reliably protect the child throughout the dangerous period.
Vaccinations against Hib infection have been administered abroad since 1989. They are routinely vaccinated against it in more than 100 countries around the world. In some of them, such as the USA, Great Britain, France, Canada, Finland, vaccinations against this infection are mandatory and included in national vaccination calendars. By the way, since 2006, Hib vaccination has been included in the compulsory vaccination calendar of Ukraine. In Russia, vaccinations against hemophilus influenzae have been administered for more than 10 years. Because the Russian vaccine there is no vaccine against Hib yet, immunization is carried out by the French, Pasteur, which can rightfully be called the “gold standard” - with its advent, in fact, the history of vaccination against Hib throughout the world began.
According to our studies, as well as studies conducted almost throughout Russia, it effectively reduces the level of carriage of Haemophilus influenzae and significantly, by 4-10 times, reduces the incidence of acute respiratory infections. Vaccinated children actually begin to get sick less often. For now, this vaccination can only be done for money, in paid centers vaccination, although some regions have already begun to purchase this vaccine for children from special risk groups.
How easily do children tolerate this vaccination and do they need to prepare for it?
The vaccine consists of only one antigen, so it is well tolerated and does not require any preparation. Temperature reactions to it are very rare, no more than 1% of vaccinated people, and mild reactions at the injection site (redness, slight thickening) occur in no more than 5% of children.
Children from 1 to 5 years old only need one vaccination. If possible, then for such babies it should ideally be supplemented with vaccination against pneumococcal infection, and then the child will be maximally protected from acute respiratory infections, no worse than children in the USA.
More than a hundred years ago, it was believed that it was Haemophilus influenzae that led to the development of influenza symptoms. Over time, scientists have established that Haemophilus influenzae (Pfeiffer's bacillus) is a bacterium that causes diseases in the human body, and primarily in children. brain, lungs, joints. To prevent their development, doctors suggested strengthening the immune system through vaccination.
Let's find out in this article everything about the vaccination against hemophilus influenzae - when I get it, is it mandatory or voluntary, what diseases does it protect against, and what dangers can await a child during vaccination.
What diseases does hemophilus influenzae cause?
More than 16 species of bacteria belong to the genus Haemophilus influenzae. The most dangerous of them is Haemophilus influenzae type b, which is detected in 5% of cases. All severe cases of the disease are associated with this type of microorganism, against which the vaccine is given.
Hemophilus influenzae infection - what is it? - this is a series of acute infectious diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae. Where does the pathogen come from and what diseases does it cause? The natural habitats of Haemophilus influenzae are the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract
. In some populations, bacteria can be detected in almost 100% of the population. The source of infection can only be a person with a latent (hidden) form of the disease or a bacteria carrier. In most cases, the disease is transmitted within the family from older children or from parents to younger ones.
Children from six months to 4–5 years are at risk for developing severe infection and numerous complications.
- Why are young children at risk? Protective systems
- The bodies of newborns are not yet so strong.
- Children experience a lot of stress on the body in the first months of life due to the active proliferation of microorganisms that the child inherited from his mother.
Meeting with new pathogens.
In such conditions, the child’s body is under constant stress and another contact with hemophilus influenzae bacteria can develop into an illness with consequences. Do children need to be vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae? - it is necessary, since children more often than adults have neurological complications after the development of diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae infection. The microorganism loves the respiratory and nervous systems, affects. For its active growth and reproduction it is necessary important condition- presence of blood cells.
What diseases does Haemophilus influenzae cause?
The most frequent illnesses for hemophilus influenzae infection are:
- pneumonia;
- meningitis;
- Otitis media
pneumonia in a child
Newborns, adolescents and adults are less susceptible to developing complications, but in children from 6 months to five years, Haemophilus influenzae is more likely to cause meningitis, pneumonia, otitis media and septicemia. Before introduction mandatory vaccinations observed against bacteria high risk the development of lethal complications in children is about 5%. Now this figure has almost halved.
Research on the effectiveness of vaccinations against hemophilus influenzae was carried out back in the 40s of the last century. Thanks to the introduction of vaccinations, the number of cases of meningitis, pneumonia and the number of fatal complications has decreased. Vaccination against hemophilus influenzae in the USA and European countries has been introduced as a vital requirement since 1990. In Russia, they came to such protection only in 2011. Vaccination is carried out for children in the first months after birth and coincides with other vaccinations.
Indications for vaccination
Vaccination against hemophilus influenzae infection is indicated:
- all children from three months of age;
- children attending preschool educational establishments;
- people with any immunodeficiency conditions (HIV, oncological processes), as well as after removal of the spleen;
- vaccinations are given to older people;
- children living in large families and orphanages.
Vaccination for children in the first year of life is mandatory; it is carried out in the clinic at the place of residence. Vaccination against hemophilus influenzae in adults is carried out only on a paid basis. Adults at risk can be vaccinated.
Vaccination schedule
The vaccination schedule against Haemophilus influenzae varies depending on the vaccine and the age of the child.
Any drug for protection against Haemophilus influenzae infection is a lyophilisate for the preparation of a vaccine and contains a capsular polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae (part of the bacterial shell), conjugated, that is, enhanced with tetanus toxoid. Lyophilisate or dry substance of white or gray-white color containing protection against Haemophilus influenzae must be dissolved. In this form, the vaccine is ready for use.
The drug is administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously, depending on the type of vaccine. Haemophilus influenzae vaccination schedules may vary.
How many times are adults vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae? If there is a need for vaccination, then it is also carried out once, which is due to the already existing protective cells in the body of an adult.
Reactions to vaccination and side effects
This is one of the few vaccinations that is well tolerated; it can be replaced with any analogue without reducing the protective properties. Single-component drugs cause virtually no complications, and full immunization ensures the production of antibodies against Haemophilus influenzae for four years after revaccination.
Possible reactions to vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae:
- When vaccinating a child, parents in very rare cases noted the appearance of redness and the formation of an infiltrate at the site of vaccine administration, which are most often caused not by a reaction to the drug, but by infection at the time of injection;
- temperature rise to insignificant numbers after vaccination;
- general weakness and malaise in the form of decreased appetite, headaches or poor sleep.
Side effects of vaccination against hemophilus influenzae include only the appearance of a rash like urticaria, both at the injection site and throughout the body. This is how it manifests itself allergic reaction for the vaccine.
Everything may change a little if you were vaccinated with a multicomponent drug, when one vaccine additionally includes protection against other infections (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, hepatitis B). In this case, the body reacts to other components of the vaccine. What reactions and complications arise from vaccination depend on the composition of the drug and the immunization technique.
After multicomponent vaccines, the following sometimes appear:
Treatment of complications due to vaccination
How to deal with undesirable consequences vaccinations? As mentioned above, adverse reactions are most often associated with the use of multicomponent vaccines, so below are presented general recommendations How to behave after any vaccination.
After vaccination, if any of the above symptoms occur, symptomatic medications should be used:
- if the temperature rises after vaccination, antipyretic medications are prescribed;
- redness of the limb requires the use of anti-inflammatory drugs;
- for allergies light form antihistamines are suitable medicines;
- in more severe cases (if angioedema occurs due to vaccination), consultation with a doctor is necessary with possible hospitalization.
How to avoid complications
As with any vaccination, you need to prepare for vaccination against hemophilus influenzae infection. The most best treatment- This proper prevention, which is best discussed with your doctor in advance. This can significantly reduce the number of complications and reduce the additional possible burden on the immune system. There is no difficulty in this.
- Before vaccination, you need a full examination by a pediatrician.
- Limit your child's contact with sick people.
- You should not feed your baby new foods, formulas, or introduce complementary foods. If a mother feeds her child breast milk- this rule also applies to her diet. The baby may react to a new product in different ways. allergic manifestations, which some parents mistakenly perceive as a complication after vaccination.
Haemophilus influenzae vaccination is much easier to tolerate than the mildest infection caused by the Pfeiffer bacillus. However, how to reduce or completely avoid possible reactions for immunization?
- You must remain under medical supervision for 30 minutes after vaccination.
- After vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae, you can walk with your child on the street, but in places where there are no large crowds of people, in order to avoid contact with sick people if possible.
- You can bathe your child after vaccination, but not for long, preferably in the shower.
- You can’t introduce new foods in your diet either.
Contraindications
Vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b is not carried out:
- children over five years of age, except in cases where they are at risk;
- kids up to three months;
- if you are allergic to the drug;
- Vaccination is temporarily contraindicated if the child is ill with ARVI.
Types of vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae
Despite the fact that vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae has been carried out relatively recently in Russia, there is a lot to choose from among the vaccines used.
In clinics on a budgetary basis, vaccinations are most often given with drugs with the lowest cost, which include Hiberix and Act-Hib. Each of the proposed vaccines is not inferior in effectiveness to its competitor. Single-component drugs are cheaper and have fewer side effects. If the vaccine additionally includes protection against several infections, this is convenient; there is no need to inject the child several times in one day.
Vaccination against hemophilus influenzae infection for children is included in national calendar vaccinations and should be given to all babies in the first year of life. It helps protect the child from meningitis, pneumonia and cope with others no less dangerous diseases.
Haemophilus influenzae infection is a disease caused by microorganisms bacterial nature. The disease most often affects children aged 4 - 7 years. The danger of infection lies in its side effects, negatively affecting the functioning of the central nervous system and respiratory organs.
Exciter type
The cause of the disease is Haemophilus influenzae type B or Hib infection. There are about 16 types of pathogens and 6 main types (from A to F). The most dangerous type for humans is type B. Haemophilus influenzae of this type is very small (up to 1 micron) and can transform into a microorganism with a protective capsule. Thanks to the polysaccharide capsule, the bacterium is able to function for a long time in human body, without fear of antibodies produced by the immune system and taking medications.
This microorganism is very resistant to antibiotics. It can be so difficult to identify the disease that the patient is often misdiagnosed.
Under the influence of infection, immune antibodies are not produced in sufficient quantities, which leads to repeated infection with the disease. Even a seemingly healthy child can be a carrier of hemophilus influenzae and be a source of infection for others.
Indications
Vaccination against Hib infection is carried out for all children under 1 year of age. mandatory. Vaccination is also recommended:
- babies over 3 months old;
- children visiting crowded establishments;
- persons with malfunctions of the immune system and those suffering from cancer;
- pensioners.
Adults can be vaccinated against Hib infection only in paid clinics. After vaccination, the human body will be protected from dangerous complications:
- pneumonia;
- meningitis;
- sepsis;
- arthritis;
- inflammation of the larynx.
Due to the fact that the Haemophilus influenzae vaccine is included in the category of mandatory childhood vaccinations, the percentage deaths from the consequences of the disease in children under 5 years of age decreased several times.
Vaccines for vaccination
In Russia, vaccination against Hib infection is carried out with three vaccines:
- Hiberix (England);
All of the drugs listed are not whole cell and therefore cause minimal side effects. Whole cell vaccines are unsafe because they contain the whole body of the pathogen. Vaccinations against Hib infection contain only individual cell fragments of the microorganism. Differences between vaccines of this disease are insignificant, and their composition is almost identical:
- Haemophilus influenzae type B polysaccharides;
- tetanus antibodies obtained by aluminum hydroxide;
- stabilizers.
The stabilizer in the Act-hib vaccine is sucrose, and in Hiberix it is lactose. These vaccines are given to children in the clinic free of charge, since their cost is significantly less price on Pentaxim.
Vaccination schedule
The regimen is standard for all children, but it can be adjusted depending on the type of drug and the age of the patient:
- For children, the first administration of the drug is recommended at 3 months. The procedure is repeated at 4.5 and 6 months. This schedule provides children with maximum protection from the hemophilus influenzae pathogen - up to 95% of cases. The last revaccination gives the child almost 100% protection against infection.
- The vaccination schedule changes if the baby received the first vaccine later than 6 months. In this case, the drug is administered 2 times with an interval of 1 month. Revaccination takes place a year later, after the second procedure.
- The child is given a single dose of the drug per year. A child at this age could already have had hemophilus influenzae infection and develop his own antibodies to this disease. A one-time procedure helps strengthen the body's defenses in case of recurrent disease.
Vaccination instructions
Injections are performed intramuscularly. For babies, injections are most often given in the thigh.
For older children and teenagers - into the deltoid muscle of the shoulder. Subcutaneous administration of the drug is allowed, but not intravenous. Injections into the buttock are also not practiced.
When vaccinating, the following rules described in the instructions for the drug must be taken into account:
- vaccination is given only to a healthy child;
- after the injection, the patient must remain under medical supervision for another 30 minutes;
- the drug can be administered together with other vaccines except .
Before the procedure, it is important to carefully consider the diluent included with the vaccine. It should not contain foreign elements and change its appearance.
The solvent is introduced into the ampoule with the drug at the rate of 0.5 ml per dose, respectively. The ampoule is thoroughly mixed until the lyophilisate dissolves.
If undissolved particles are visible in the prepared vaccine, then the use of such a drug should be abandoned.
After opening, the bottle is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours. After 24 hours, the drug is disposed of.
Dr. Komarovsky talks about the new rules for vaccination against hemophilus influenzae in the following video:
Contraindications
There are relatively few contraindications for the Hib vaccine. Among the constants note:
- allergy to tetanus antigens;
- intolerance to vaccine components;
- encephalopia;
- convulsions.
A conditional ban is considered to be diseases in acute and chronic stage. Before the procedure, the child must be shown to a doctor. Only he can confirm the presence of contraindications to vaccination or refute them.
Side effects
The overwhelming majority of dangerous consequences arise due to non-compliance with contraindications or their untimely diagnosis. People may experience the following complications:
- an allergic reaction manifested by urticaria or Quincke's edema;
- exacerbation of a chronic illness;
- fever if vaccination was carried out in a patient with fever;
- damage to the central nervous system if a person has encephalopia.
Cases of complications are very rare, so parents should not leave their child without a vaccine against Hib infection without obvious reasons. It is better to prevent the disease in time than to face its dangerous consequences later.
Vaccination against Hib infection plays a huge role in maintaining the immunity of adults and children in the fight against Haemophilus influenzae. For this reason, it was included in the list of mandatory childhood vaccines. There are very few contraindications for the procedure, but you need to know about them in order to prevent possible side effects.
Hib infection
Hib infection (Haemophilus influenzae infection)- this is a group of diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae of the most dangerous type b. The causative agent of this infection causes severe
- purulent meningitis (inflammation of the brain),
- epiglottitis (inflammation of the epiglottis),
- sepsis (blood poisoning),
- pneumonia (pneumonia),
- otitis ( ear infection),
- arthritis (inflammation of the joints)
- acute respiratory diseases (ARI), etc.
Most forms of infection are very severe, causing various complications leading to disability: delayed mental and motor development, hearing loss (up to complete deafness), impaired motor activity etc. Haemophilus influenzae infection is difficult to treat, since the pathogen is resistant to the action of some antibiotics. Some cases of Haemophilus influenzae infection are fatal.
How can you become infected with Hib infection?
The pathogen is transmitted from a sick person or a carrier of infection when talking, coughing, sneezing, with saliva, through toys and household items.
Who is at risk of getting sick?
Haemophilus influenzae has a special protective capsule that makes this microorganism “invisible” to some cells of the immune system of children under 5 years of age. For this reason, they do not develop full protection against this infection. Therefore, children can suffer this disease many times.
Highest risk of development severe forms Hib infection is present in
- Frequently and long-term ill children.
- Children with chronic inflammatory diseases respiratory tract.
- HIV-infected children.
For such children, vaccination is prescribed not only for preventive, but also for therapeutic purposes.
The risk of contracting Haemophilus influenzae is higher in
- Children under 5 years of age who are in closed groups (orphanages).
- Children aged 6-12 months who are bottle-fed.
- Children attending or preparing to attend preschool institutions.
How to effectively prevent Hib infection?
It is impossible to protect a child from meeting hemophilus influenzae. So we need to “prepare” him for this meeting. Only effective way To prevent the development of Hib infection in a child is the introduction of a vaccine.
What vaccines are used to prevent Hib infection in modern medical practice?
To prevent Hib infection, highly effective vaccines are used, created using modern technologies. Their efficiency is close to 100%.
The administration of such vaccines is well tolerated. Local reactions to administration (redness, hardening at the injection site) are observed in 4-5 children out of 100 vaccinated. Temperature reactions are recorded in isolated cases. If these reactions occur, these reactions do not affect the child’s usual lifestyle.
Vaccines against Hib infection do not contain live pathogens, so it is impossible to get the infection as a result of the vaccine.
What are the vaccine administration schedules?
It is advisable to start vaccinating children from the age of 3 months according to the classical scheme. In this case, basic immunity will be provided by vaccination, consisting of three vaccinations with an interval of 1 month. At the age of 18 months, a single booster vaccination (maintenance vaccination) is required.
How older child, the higher the ability of his immune system to form protection against Hib infection. Therefore, in the case of immunization of a child according to an individual schedule, vaccination can begin at the age of 6 to 12 months and consist of two vaccinations with an interval of 1-1.5 months, followed by revaccination at 18 months. If immunization begins at the age of over 12 months, one vaccination (without subsequent revaccination) is sufficient to form full protection against Hib infection.
The vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae infection can be administered simultaneously with vaccines against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus, polio, viral hepatitis B and other infections. Simultaneous administration of vaccines against several (5-6) infections does not overload immune system, which is capable of simultaneously processing tens of thousands of antigens.
What are the contraindications to the administration of the vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae?
The vaccine is not administered if you are allergic to the components of the vaccine (tetanus or diphtheria components, etc.). Vaccination is postponed until the symptoms of an acute disease disappear or the chronic disease worsens.
Before vaccination, the child will be examined by a doctor and will give an opinion on the possibility of administering the vaccine.
Prepared by:
Head of the Immunoprophylaxis Department of the Minsk City Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology Glinskaya I. N.,
epidemiologist at the Department of Immunoprophylaxis of the Minsk City Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology Volosar L.A.
