Immunizations can be used for children, know the benefits, schedule, and side effects

There are several types of mandatory immunizations given to babies, DPT is one of them. DPT immunization stands for three different diseases, namely diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. Why are vaccines for these three diseases mandatory and why are they combined into one? The following is an explanation of the DPT vaccine in children.

What is DPT immunization?

DPT vaccine or immunization is an immunization to prevent three deadly diseases, namely diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. The combination of DPT immunization has been carried out since the 1940s to the present.

Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus are serious diseases caused by bacteria. Diphtheria and pertussis can be spread by direct (person-to-person) contact while tetanus can enter the body through open wounds.

The DPT vaccine can prevent these three diseases simultaneously but several types of DPT immunization are now being developed, namely:

Types of DPT immunization

Quoting from WHO, this vaccine is called pentavalent, a combination of DPT, HiB (haemophilus influenza type B) immunization which causes inflammation of the brain, and hepatitis B (HB). Everything is put together in a single injection, so that in one injection it can prevent 5 diseases at once.

There is also a combination immunization called pentabio, a combination of DPT, HB, and polio vaccines.

Combined vaccines are intended to reduce the injections given to babies, so that they can prevent several diseases with just one injection. The administration was carried out at the ages of 2,3 and 4 months

This type of immunization is the same and can be done in health centers, clinics, and hospitals. Basically, this type of immunization can prevent the following diseases:

Diphtheria

This disease is caused by a bacterial infection, how it works by attacking the throat and upper respiratory system. Bacteria named Corynebacterium diphtheria this produces toxins and can affect other organs of the body.

Diphtheria causes dead tissue to build up in the throat and tonsils, making it difficult for you to breathe and swallow. Diphtheria can be transmitted through direct physical contact, such as exhaling, coughing, or sneezing from someone who is infected.

Pertussis

Just like diphtheria, pertussis is caused by a bacterial infection. Launching from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pertussis is known as whooping cough. This is a cough that is uncontrollable making it difficult for a person to eat, drink, and breathe.

Pertussis is a very serious health problem in infants and children because it can cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death.

Meanwhile, in adolescents and adults, pertussis can cause weight loss, bladder control, fainting, and rib fractures due to a very severe cough.

Tetanus

Diseases that have other names lockjaw this is caused by bacteria clostridium tetani . This bacterial infection causes damage to the nervous system. Although both are caused by bacteria, tetanus does not spread through direct contact.

Tetanus develops through spores from bacteria in open wounds. After the spores enter the body through the wound, the spores will develop into bacteria and produce a dangerous toxin called tetanospamine.

Tetanus sufferers show signs of muscle spasms to difficulty breathing and eventually death.

Polio

This disease, also called poliomyelitis, is caused by a viral infection, attacks the central nervous system and causes damage to the motor nervous system.

Polio can cause muscle paralysis, it can be temporary or even permanent. In very severe cases, polio affects the respiratory system and ability to swallow.

When a person has polio, the condition cannot be completely cured. However, with polio immunization, whether joining the DPT or not, can prevent transmission of this disease and reduce the incidence of polio significantly.

HiB (haemophilus influenza type B)

Haemophilus influenzae type b (HiB) is a bacterium that causes infection in parts of the body's organs, such as the brain, lungs, respiratory tract, bones and heart.

These bacteria tend to attack babies and children more easily because their immune systems are still weak. However, adults with weak immune systems also have the possibility of being exposed to this bacteria.

HiB immunization can prevent children from various serious diseases, such as meningitis, inflammatory bone infection (osteomyelitis), laryngeal infection (epiglottitis), pneumonia, and septicemia.

Hepatitis (HB)

Hepatitis B (HB) immunization is included in the combined vaccine with DPT, either in the pentabio or pentavalent group. Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus and is at risk of developing liver cancer.

Hepatitis B vaccine must be obtained as soon as the baby is born, no later than 12 hours after birth. However, babies should receive an injection of vitamin K1, 30 minutes before being vaccinated.

Hepatitis B immunization that joins the DPT can be done after the baby is 2,3 and 4 months old.

Who should be given DPT immunization?

The Center for Disease of Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone get the DPT vaccine. Who needs to get this immunization?

Babies and children

According to the Center for Disease of Control and Prevention (CDC) on its official website, babies need three times the DPT vaccine as a basic immunization to protect the body from the three deadly diseases.

Then, children over the age of one year are given 2 repeat immunizations (booster) to strengthen the vaccines that have been given previously.

For children who have a severe reaction to the pertussis vaccine, the doctor will usually recommend giving the TD (tetanus diphtheria) vaccine. However, children who are given the TD vaccine have no protection against pertussis and will be more susceptible to infection.

Youth

Children with a range of adolescents, around the age of 11 and 12 years, need to get a DPT vaccine to increase their immunity. For children who have not previously received DPT immunization, it is necessary to receive the same vaccine one time within one month after the first injection.

Pregnant mother

Is immunization safe for pregnant women? Yes, depending on the type. Pregnant women need to get DPT immunization at the beginning of each month of each trimester of pregnancy. This is to prevent the baby from developing pertussis or whooping cough early in life after birth.

Adults

All adults of all ages need to get a repeat DPT vaccine (booster) once every 10 years. This is to strengthen the vaccines that were previously given and boost the immune system.

What is the schedule for giving DPT immunization to children?

Through its official website, the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) explains that the schedule for giving children's DPT immunizations is given 3 times as basic immunization and two immunizations that must be repeated (booster), so that a total of 5 times the DPT immunization in children.

• Basic immunization when the baby is 2 months, 3 months, and 4 months
• Re-immunization (booster) at 18 months of age
• Re-immunization (booster) the child is 5 years old before entering school

What if your little one is given DPT immunization too late? IDAI explains on its official website that children do not need to repeat immunizations from the beginning, but continue according to schedule.

For example, a child is late for the second basic immunization, still continue with the third basic immunization as scheduled.

If your child has not received immunization at the age of less than 12 months or one year, do basic immunization with the same time interval (interval), namely one month gap.

Meanwhile, if the DPT 4 immunization is carried out before the child is 4 years old, the DPT 5 immunization should be done at least 6 months after that. If your child is given the DPT 4 vaccine after the age of 4 years, the DPT 5 vaccine is no longer needed.

Then re-vaccination is required (booster) to protect against tetanus and diphtheria (Td), it is recommended to do it every 10 years.

Are there any conditions that make children unnecessary or delay immunization against DPT?

DPT immunization is very useful for preventing deadly diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. However, is there anything that prevents someone from getting this vaccine?

Quoting from Healthy Children, children who are not feeling well or are mildly ill need to postpone vaccines and wait until they are completely cured. Mild illness that is suffered as a side effect of this DPT vaccine is cough, runny nose, or fever.

Meanwhile, a serious side effect is an allergy that can threaten the life of a person. Although this is a very rare case.

If your child has a severe allergic reaction from the ingredients in the vaccine, it is advisable not to be given the DPT vaccine. Tell the doctor if your child has the condition:

• Seizures or nervous system problems
• Severe pain or swelling following a vaccine containing diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus
• Have experienced Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) or muscle weakness

This is a very rare case, but if your child experiences it, consult a doctor immediately.

DPT vaccine price

When your baby is 2, 4, and 6 months old, your little one is required to get DPT immunization (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus). There are several types of DPT vaccines with different prices, along with an explanation.

DPT vaccine produced by Indonesia

There are two types of DPT immunization, pentavalent and pentabio which consist of a combination of vaccines. The pentabio vaccine contains 5 types of vaccines, namely DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus), hepatitis B, and polio.

This is intended to reduce the injections given, so at 6 months of age, your baby can be given the pentabio vaccine. The price of this vaccine is quite affordable because of its production from Indonesia.

This locally produced DPT vaccine can be obtained at the health center and is free of charge because it gets subsidies from the government.

Belgium's DPT vaccine

The pertussis component used in this type of vaccine does not cause high fever, only mild, this is because the components are already acellular. DPT immunization can also be done by combining it according to the schedule.

For example, one vaccine already consists of the inactivated Hepatitis B and Polio vaccines. In addition there is a choice of Hib vaccine (Hemophilus influenza type B) - to prevent influenza which causes inflammation of the brain and is different from ordinary influenza.

France's DPT vaccine

This vaccine is more attractive to some people because of the convenience it provides to your baby. The price is much more expensive than the vaccines given at the health center. However, they are just as effective as other DPT vaccines.

If your child gets a vaccine not from the Puskesmas, usually a vaccine that is not subsidized by the government. But in general, the DPT immunization price ranges from around Rp. 135 thousand to Rp. 300 thousand for a single injection.

What are the side effects of giving DPT immunization?

Every drug has side effects, including DPT immunization. However, the side effects of immunization are usually mild and will go away on their own, only in very rare cases can a serious reaction occur.

The mild side effects most often experienced by infants and children after the DPT vaccine are:

• Pain after injection (3 out of 4 adolescents experience this)
• Redness or swelling at the injection site (1 in 5 people experience this)
• Low fever 38 degrees Celsius (1 in 25 children)
• Headache (3 to 4 people in 10 children)
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain (1 in 4 adolescents)
• Chills and joint pain (1 in 10 children)
• Rash to swollen glands (very rare)

These mild side effects occur after the child is given the vaccine and do not really interfere with daily activities. Fever usually occurs one to three days after administering the vaccine.

To overcome this, you can give fever-reducing drugs or paracetamol to relieve fever when your child feels uncomfortable.

At a very severe level, although rare, the side effect of giving DPT immunization is an allergic reaction.

For example, hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, fast heartbeat, dizziness and weakness. Pay attention to the reactions in your little one, if you experience these signs, immediately contact your doctor.

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