Typhoid vaccine: benefits, schedule, and side effects

There are many types of immunizations that must be given to your little one, one of which is typhoid. This vaccine is to prevent typhoid fever (typhoid) which often affects children and adults. Is immunization of children to prevent typhus really effective? When should you give the typhoid vaccine? The following is the full explanation.

What is the typhoid vaccine?

Typhoid immunization is a type of vaccine that is useful for preventing typhoid fever or typhoid in children and adults.

Quoting from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are two types of typhoid vaccines as a measure to prevent typhoid fever, namely:

Oral vaccines

This is a typhoid vaccine that is given orally or by mouth and can be given to children over 6 years of age.

There are 4 capsules that must be taken daily and the last dose should be taken one week before traveling to endemic areas.

Typhoid vaccine capsules contain typhoid bacteria that are still alive, but are very weak. Storage of this vaccine must be cold in the refrigerator (temperature 2-8 degrees Celsius) but not frozen.

Vaccine injection

This type of typhoid immunization is called a polysaccharide which is made of sugar which coats the surface of the bacteria that is given by injection. This typhoid vaccine can be given to children from 3 years of age and is recommended to be repeated every two years.

Typhus occurs due to bacteria S. typhi enter the body through contaminated food and drink. People who are infected and feel mild symptoms, can get treatment at home (outpatient).

Meanwhile, if the symptoms are severe enough, the patient should get treatment at the hospital. If not, the infection can spread to the joints, bladder, kidneys, to the brain.

Quoted from the CDC, this disease is recorded to attack about 21 million people per year worldwide, and causes the death of 200,000 people. This disease can be prevented by injection of typhoid vaccine.

Basically, the symptoms of typhus in children are not much different from those usually experienced by adults. The most common signs of typhoid in children that you should be aware of are:

The child has a high fever (above 39 degrees Celsius) for two to three weeks
Headache
Excess fatigue
The body shivered
Diarrhea or other digestive disorders

If typhoid still occurs until the third week, usually the child will begin to show signs of delirium and difficulty concentrating.

If you have entered this stage, it is a sign that typhus in children has entered a critical stage and must be treated immediately. Treatment that is late can cause typhoid symptoms to get worse or even complications.

How does the typhoid vaccine work?

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health's Typhoid Control Guidelines, the oral vaccine has an effectiveness of 36-66 percent to prevent typhoid fever.

Meanwhile, injectable typhoid immunization is known to provide 60-70 percent protection for children over 5 years and adults.

Although it aims to prevent typhus transmission, there are still other factors that you must ensure, one of which is cleanliness. For that, make sure you and your family maintain personal hygiene and the food you eat even though you have received the vaccine.

Even so, when a child has received the typhoid vaccine, then he develops typhoid fever at a later date, the symptoms he experiences will be lighter than other children who have not received the typhoid vaccine.

Who needs typhoid immunization?

Given that typhoid can lead to serious complications, proper prevention is needed. One of them can be by doing the typhoid vaccine.

Referring to the immunization schedule for the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), the typhoid vaccine should be given to children over the age of two and then repeated every 3 years.

This schedule is different from the MMR vaccine or hepatitis B vaccine that is given from infancy.

It is important for you to remember that although vaccines work to prevent infection, they are not always 100 percent effective, including typhoid vaccines.

So, you still have to make sure that your little one's personal hygiene and food are maintained so that they don't get exposed to the bacteria that cause typhoid fever.

Apart from children, some people who are strictly required to get this vaccine include:

People who work in laboratories and handle bacteria S. typhi
Work or travel in endemic areas (disease transmission is quite high)
Have close contact with typhoid fever patients
Living in an environment where water or soil is at risk of bacterial contamination

Polysaccharide type typhoid injection vaccine can be given to adults and children over 2 years of age. This vaccine should be given at least 2 weeks prior to travel to endemic areas.

A further dose is needed if the person is at risk of becoming infected again at a later date. The period of administration is 3 years after the first injection. While the oral typhoid vaccine can be given to children aged 6 years and adults.

What conditions make children alert to typhoid vaccines?

Although typhoid immunization can prevent typhoid fever or typhoid fever, there are several conditions that make a person have to postpone vaccine administration.

Have a weak immune system (for example, have HIV / AIDS)
Allergy to ingredients in the vaccine
Are currently taking antibiotics or antimalarial drugs
Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers

In some cases, health workers will suggest delaying vaccines until the body's condition improves.

For children who are mildly ill, such as low-grade fever, cough, or runny nose, typhoid immunization can still be given. Consult the conditions that are felt at that time, so that the doctor can take the appropriate action.

What are the side effects of typhoid vaccine?

Just like other drugs, vaccines can also cause side effects. Generally, the side effects are quite mild so that most people have no problem receiving this injection or oral typhoid immunization.

Some of the possible side effects include:

Fever
Headache
Rash and swelling in the area of the skin that was injected. An estimated 1 in 15 people experience it.

To avoid the dangerous side effects of immunization, make sure that your little one is in good health while receiving the vaccine. Typhoid immunization can be postponed if you have a fever or an infection.

Typhoid immunization for injection or oral form will not be given to people who are likely to experience severe side effects, such as:

People who have had an allergy to this vaccine before
People with weak immune systems, such as people with HIV / AIDS and cancer
People who are undergoing certain medications, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or taking steroid medicines
Children who have not met the recommended age

Before planning typhoid vaccine injections in children, consult your doctor first. However, the side effects of children who are not immunized are more dangerous because they are susceptible to many diseases.

When to see a doctor?

Severe allergic conditions are very rare after vaccine administration. However, it should still be taken to the doctor if the child has a severe allergic reaction such as:

Difficulty breathing
Rash all over the body
The heart beats fast
Severe fatigue
Swelling of the throat and face

When checked, tell the medical staff that your little one has just received typhoid immunization. This makes it easier for the doctor to take the appropriate action according to the conditions.