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Painless vaccine for Whooping cough/DPT versus Painful vaccine
Painless vaccine for Whooping Cough?
Does this work?Are there painless options for everyone?The answers get interesting.Vaccine and painless? Sounds like an answer to a prayer. Who in their right mind would like to cause pain to babies right?
Updated 2019
Painful vaccine for whooping cough or Painless? If the answer was limited only to the “pain ” factor of the vaccine, I would probably not even bother with this post.
But few things in life are that simple. Being parents mean, you have to take enormous ‘pains’ to make the right choice.The right choice and easy choice are not always best friends. With several types of research over the year, facts about the two types of DPT vaccine has become clear.
Though my aim is to help you take the right decision, you should always consult your pediatrician in case you have difficulty deciding.
What is Painless Vaccine?
The painless vaccine is the popular name of acellular Pertussis ( whooping cough) vaccine.It is generally given as a combination vaccine, DaPT (Diphtheria,acellular-Pertussis, Tetanus).
What is Painful Vaccine?
The painful vaccine is also Pertussis vaccine like the painless vaccine, but it is whole cell vaccine.This too is given as a DwPT combination. So , both these vaccines are Pertussis vaccines, with a few important differentiating factors.
Pros of Painless vaccine for whooping cough
Post-vaccination side effects, like high fever, persistent cry, local site painful swelling, are less common, in this variety than a Painful vaccine.
If a Painless vaccine is available, why the necessity of a Painful vaccine?
Experience with the Painless vaccine in industrialized countries has unfortunately brought forward two important facts:
1) Painful, vaccine (whole-cell) for DPT: Better priming, which means initial sensitization to the antigen (bacteria) is better. Thus antibody production is more and protection is superior.
2) The painless vaccine has a faster period of waning that is the immunity provided by the painless vaccine decreases faster than the painful vaccine. These two reasons are responsible for recent recurrence of whooping cough in many of the countries using only the Painless vaccine.
Why do we need to vaccinate our children against Pertussis?
Pertussis/Whooping cough/Kali Khasi/100 days cough are few of the names of the disease that can occur in all age groups depending on the level of immunity.
It is a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract. Highly contagious, usually manifesting as severe, persistent disturbing cough, lasting for a prolonged period not responsive to antibiotics.
Primary prevention (vaccination), and supportive care during disease are the management protocols. Infants are more at risk of debilitating course of the disease and thus most countries include this vaccine in their immunization schedule.
Current Recommendation for Pertussis vaccine
Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends DPT vaccination.Give whichever is available. Importance of timely immunization cannot be stressed enough.
Primary immunization: at 6 weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks.
Booster dose: at one and a half years and five years.
When can you give Painless vaccine for whooping cough
- History of severe adverse effect to the previous dose of painful vaccine.
- A child having any neurological problem.
- Booster doses at one and a half years and five years.
Best practice:(IAP 2018 December Update)
The painful vaccine is to be preferred in all cases as it gives better protection for a longer duration. A healthy child is a happy child. As parents, we have to make choices which have the potential to change their lives forever. S
The Primary series or first three doses of DPT vaccine can be given with either wP(painful) or aP(painless vaccines). The painful vaccine is definitely superior (as recommended by WHO )to aP vaccine when it comes to level and duration of immunity. But causes a more local, painful reaction. In view of parental anxiety and concern regarding the local and systemic reactions to painful vaccines, the painless vaccine can also be given even in the primary series.
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Read the post:Baby Vaccination: Everything you need to know
My books to help you choose better
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Picky Eater : Guaranteed Hacks to Make you Happy
Probiotic Food
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Disclaimer: This article was written after discussion with Dr.Abhijit Misra MD Pediatrics a.k.a my hubby. It is purely meant for education and information purposes and not to be confused with professional advice.Feel free to write to me with your questions and I promise I will help.Take care, stay healthy.
Also from my Blog
Reference:
- The Best of Indian Pediatrics (Part1)
- IAP Guide book on immunization
- WHO
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VITAMIN D Deficiency:Is it a Myth?
The Vitamin D deficiency: What could be the story?
Many of my busy cousins in their thirties are having a variety of old age problems.
Hypertension, diabetes, deranged lipid profile, nothing seems to be left.But is chronic stress the only culprit? While reading the many research papers, I found a surprising answer.
Lifestyle and your diet really do decide your health. Vitamin D is suspected to have a role. Vitamin D is the miracle vitamin which has a range of goodness. This sunshine vitamin can bring the sunshine into your life.
Not only physical health but your mental health is also influenced by Vitamin D.
Shocked ?I was too.Do you know anybody with hypertension?
Anybody with diabetes?What about somebody who is having a weight issue.
You must be knowing someone who has depression. It’s another chronic problem of our times.
They might need to check their vitamin D level in blood.Do you have Vitamin D deficiency?
Have you ever tested for your blood level of Vitamin D?
Are you overweight?All over theworld, in both developed and developing nations VitaminD deficiency is a highly researched topic.Undernutrition and deficiencies of micronutrient is not surprising.What is surprising is that Vitamin D deficiency is present even in overweight, obese people.This has created the shocking nutritional state known as ‘Malnutrition of Obesity”.
The USA , as well as worldwide Vitamin D, ppears to be a micronutrient which is largely deficient in most.
Who is at risk of Vitamin D deficiency?
50% of world population.Yes the rate is that high.
1 billion people worldwide suspected to be suffering.
There’s a pandemic of vitamin D deficiency worldwide.
- The cause is suspected to be environmental pollution, that’s preventing synthesis of Vitamin D by your skin.
- Dietary deficiency
- Sunscreen(with SPF more than 30) use is another reason which decreases vitamin.
- Obesity decreases vitamin D .Decreased Vitamin D makes it difficult for you to lose weight.Vicious cycle.
Source of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a very special fat soluble hormone. You can synthesize this vitamin in your skin.
Most oil-rich fish such as salmon, mackerel, and herring contain vitamin D.95% of vitamin D can be synthesized by exposure of the skin to sunlight(UVB). Ideally between 10.00 hours and 15.00 hours in the spring, summer, and fall.Sunscreen(with SPF more than 30) use is another reason which decreases vitamin
Population at risk
-
- Children
- Young and middle-aged adults
- Breast fed infants (If mother is deficient baby will be deficient.
- People of Australia, India, Middle East, Africa, and South America.
Darker the skin, more is the melanin, less is the Vitamin D production in the skin
What the right level of Vitamin D?
VITAMIN D Normal :30ng/ml
Vitamin D insufficiency: 25(OH)D of 21–29 ng/mL
How can Vitamin D protect you?
Protects your heart
- Maintains the health of your heart and blood vessels.
Bones and Muscles
- Keeps your bones strong
- Keeps your muscles strong
- Protects against fall related injuries
- Prevents fatigue
Cancer protective
- Protects against cancer. Most significantly colorectal cancer.
- Maybe protecting against breast cancer too
Obesity
Auto immune disease and immunity
- Less risk of type 2 Diabetes.
- Vitamin D protects against autoimmune diseases(multiple sclerosis,Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune thyroid disease.)
- It also has a role in protection against influenza during winter
Mental health
- Vitamin D helps prevent cognitive problems associated with aging.
- It helps in depression by preventing relapse.
- Helps in decreasing the dose of medicines in depression.
- Helps in weaning off medicines
How much can Vitamin D be given?
After measuring your serum Vitamin D level the right dose can be calculated.
The Mega dose may need to be given to get the deficiency corrected.
Takeaway:
Measure your vitamin D level.
Have a diet rich in Vitamin D.
Don’t forget to start vitamin D supplement if you are deficient.
Design your own healthy lifestyle. Be strong live healthy.
What’s your Vitamin D status? Have you ever tested? Let me know in the comments below.
Disclaimer :
This article is meant to spread awareness about health. It is not a substitute for a professional medical consultation. Read my full disclaimer.
Updated Feb2018
