What are the side effects of DPT/DT/TT?
Local side effects:
It includes pain, swelling, redness & difficulty in walking.
It is seen in 30-40% of vaccinees. It persists for 24-72 hours &
responds to paracetamol. Sometimes a nodule forms at the injection
site, which may persist for several days to weeks. It may soften
and form a sterile abscess. It does not merit any treatment except
analgesics. If it shows fluctuation, it can be drained.
Systemic side effects: It
includes fever, lassitude, anorexia, vomiting, irritability, excessive
crying etc. seen in 30 – 40 % of patients. Fever is usually
mild to moderate, lasts for 2-3 days & responds to paracetamol
Sometimes, Pertussis component of DPT is responsible for fever more
than 1050 F, excessive crying & screaming spells lasting for
more than 4 hours and convulsions. If a patient develops any of
those adverse reactions it is a contraindication to further use
of DPT & instead only DT should be used. Such reactions should
be immediately reported to doctor.
What
is the treatment of side effects following DPT?
Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to treat pain, swelling, redness,
difficulty in walking and fever. It takes 2-3 days for the symptoms
to disappear. In case abscess has formed, treat with antibiotics
and drainage. Persistent nodule should be left alone, as it does
not lead to any other symptoms.
Can
DPT be given along with other vaccines?
DPT can be given along with any other vaccines. In fact it is given
along with OPV, Hepatitis B & Hib vaccine. A combination vaccine
containing DPT + Hib and DPT + Hepatitis B are available
What
is acellular pertussis DPT vaccine?
As seen before, the severe adverse side effects seen with DPT are
due to pertussis component. It was realized that the reactions were
due to components of cell wall of pertussis organism, which are
not required for efficacy of vaccine. An acellular pertussis vaccine
that does not have whole cell wall of pertussis has been developed
that can be routinely used for immunization.
When
is DT used?
It is used in patients where pertussis component is contraindicated
and as 2nd booster as per EPI schedule.
What
is dT vaccine?
dT vaccine has 1/10th dose of diphtheria toxoid than present in
DT/DPT. If full dose of diphtheria toxoid is given as present in
DT/ DPT in children above 10 years of age, it can lead to serious
side effects like heart toxicity, serum sickness like reactions
etc. With lack of natural boosting due to mass vaccination, diphtheria
can occur beyond 10-15 years of age in vaccinees. One needs to give
booster of diphtheria at 10 years and maybe every 10 years thereafter
to maintain protective titres. dT is useful in such cases as a booster
at 10 years (instead of TT).
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