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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