DPT Vaccine


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DPT Vaccine: Is it Any Safer?


When questioning their pediatricians, many parents are assured that recent changes to the DPT vaccine have made it safer. However, some experts in the medical field still have legitimate concerns about the vaccine.

Sandor Feldman, MD, tells us, “There are 2 absolute contraindication to DTP and DTaP: an immediate anaphylactic reaction, and encephalopathy within 7 days. 1,2 The latter is defined as a severe, acute central nervous system disorder unexplained by another cause, which may be manifested by major alterations of consciousness or by generalized or focal seizures that persist for more than a few hours without recovery within 24 hours.”

“Precautions for immunization are adverse events that were formally contraindication but now require careful consideration before administration of additional doses. 1,2 These reactions have not proven to cause permanent sequelae.

“They are:

1. Seizure with or without fever, occurring within 3 days of immunization with DTP or DTaP;

2. Persistent, severe, inconsolable screaming or crying within 3 days for 3 or more hours within 48 hours;

3. Collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode) within 48 hours;

4. Temperature greater than or equal to = 104°F (40.5°C), unexplained by another cause, within 48 hours.” 1,2

"The reader is referred to the Red Book (Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases by the American Academy of Pediatrics) for a detailed discussion on DTP and children with underlying neurologic disorders and children with a family history of seizures." 1,3


References:

1. Pickering L, ed. Report of the Committee on Infections Diseases. 25th ed. Elk Grove, Ill: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2000:435-448

2. Atkinson W, Wolfe C, Humiston S, Nelson R, eds. Centers for Disease Control. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine -- Preventable Diseases. 6th ed. Atlanta, Ga: Centers for Disease Control

3. Pickering L, ed. Report of the Committee on Infections Diseases. 25th ed. Elk Grove, Ill: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2000: 68.

-Sandor Feldman, MD, 01/22/2002

Medscape Pediatrics 4(1), 2002. © 2002 Medscape Portals



Diphtheria Vaccine


The C.D.C. A.C.I.P recommends Diphtheria vaccination at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months of age, and between 4-6 years old (before school entpt">MMWR Jan 11, 1991, Vol. 40, No. RR-1, pp. 1-7.

In five children neural complications occurred following diphtheria immunization. In three cases it could be traced back to a hyperergic reaction to diphtheria toxoid on the cerebral vessels. The latter complication is typical of individuals being immunized against diphtheria.

Ehrengut W   Neural complications after diphtheria vaccination and inoculations with diphtheria toxoid-mixed vaccines. Observations on their etiopathogenesis   Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1986 (Jun 13);   111 (24):   939-942



Pertussis Vaccine


The C.D.C. A.C.I.P recommends pertussis vaccination at: 2months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months of age, and between 4-6 years old (before school entry).

MMWR Jan 11, 1991, Vol. 40, No. RR-1, pp. 1-7


Records of 2,199 children with febrile seizures were reviewed and significant association between first febrile seizures and the scheduled age of pertussis immunization was noted.

Jacobson, V, Nielsen C, Buch D, Shields WD, Christenson P et. al.   Relationship of pertussis immunization to the onset of epilepsy, febrile convulsions and central nervous system infections: a retrospective epidemiologic study   Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 1988;   13 Suppl:   137-142


It is generally presumed that children who have had reactions to diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT) immunization will be more likely to have similar reactions or more severe reactions upon subsequent immunization. To evaluate this contention, we studiend the rates of selected reactions occuring within 48 hours of primary DPT immunization in 1,241 infants less than one year of age. Both local and systemic reactions were significantly more frequent following subsequent DPT immunization if present following a prior immunization. These reactions include local redness greater than or equal to 2.5 cm, local swelling greater than or equal to 2.5 cm, local pain, drowsiness, fretfulness, vomiting, anorexia, fever greater than or equal to 38 degrees C (100.4 degrees F), and persistent crying. In addition, infants who experienced a fever greater than or equal to 38 degrees C on the first of two immunizations were more likely to have a temperature greater than or equal to 39 degrees C (102.2 degrees F) following the second immunization.

This data strongly supports the presumption that children who have had previous reactions following DPT immunization are more likely to have similar, and possibly more severe reactions upon subsequent immunization.

Baraff LJ, Cherry JD, Cody CL, Marcy SM, Manclard CR   DTP vaccine reactions: effect of prior reactions on rate of subsequent reactions   Dev Biol Stand 1985;   61:   423-428



Whooping Cough Bacteria Resisting Vaccine


Bordetella pertussis, the bacteria responsible for whooping cough, appears to have found a way to outsmart the vaccine. It seems that, since the beginning of the whooping cough vaccination program in he early 1950s, protein mutations have occurred in some strains of the pertussis bacteria. Studies show that these variants are not present in the vaccine; rendering it ineffective, say researchers.

"The Bordetella pertussis bacterium seems to be fighting back by adapting to vaccination," explains chief researcher, Audrey King, who presented the study at the 101st General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Orlando. Pertussis vaccine is usually administered as part of the controversial diptheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine.

King A   New coat for bacterium may cause the re-emergence of Whooping cough.   101st General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. May 20-24, 2001, Orlando, Florida




Tetanus Vaccine


The C.D.C. A.C.I.P. recommends Tetanus vaccination at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months of age, and between 4-6 years old (before school entry).

MMWR Jan 11, 1991, Vol. 40, No. RR-1, pp. 1-7.


During the period 1989-1990, 117 cases of tetanus were reported from 34 states, for an average annual incidence of 0.02/100,000 population. Fifty-eight percent of patients were 60 years of age or older, while only seven (6%) were less than 20 years of age.

Prevots R, Sutter RW, Strebel PM, Cochi SL, Hadler S   Tetanus surveillance - United States, 1989-1990,   MMWR CDC Surveillance Summary 41:8, 1-9, Dec. 11, 1992




Other Websites:


Vaccination:   Point/Counterpoint @ Chiro.Org

http://www.vaccinationdebate.com/

http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/19/14/18.html