Modern medicine offers many ways to protect yourself from the development of most dangerous diseases of infectious viral origin.
One of the most effective methods is vaccination, which allows the body to independently produce protective microorganisms.
Thus, according to experts, timely administration of the drug saves both children's and adult lives. But even in this case, there are many important questions, including many who are interested in whether it is possible to wash after being vaccinated against diphtheria.
What is the vaccine
To get an accurate answer to the survey regarding whether it is allowed to take a bath after vaccination, you need to understand what it is.
Getting vaccinated in childhood can prevent many health problems in the future. This conclusion is explained by the fact that when the drug is administered to a child, the body begins to develop a certain degree of protection against infection.
In addition, we must not forget that the main component of full immunity is providing the baby with breast milk and proper nutrition in the future.
The vaccine itself is, in fact, “infection” of a baby with a certain type of disease, the “dead” or live pathogens of which are present in the composition of the medication. There is no need to fear that these bacteria can harm a child’s still fragile body.
The number of pathogens is not enough to provoke the development of the disease itself, but they are enough to strengthen the immune system.
In other words, a vaccine stimulates defense systems to produce specific antibodies needed to fight a specific disease.
Possible contraindications and reactions to vaccination
Vaccination with "AS-anatoxin" against tetanus infection is not done if the child:
- non-communicable or infectious diseases;
- chronic pathologies in an acute form;
- protracted serious illnesses (tuberculosis, meningitis, hepatitis, etc.);
- allergy to the components of the drug;
- a severe reaction occurred during a previous vaccination;
- impaired immunity (immunosuppression, oncology, anemia).
You can get a tetanus vaccination no earlier than a month after recovery or in a state of remission of chronic pathologies.
"AS-anatoxin" can cause general and local adverse reactions. Local symptoms include redness, itching, swelling, and soreness. They disappear after 1-2 days. Common reactions include fever and weakness. Rarely, complications may develop: anaphylactic shock, joint pain, fever, skin rashes. If your child develops complications, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Why it is not recommended to wet the injection site
Vaccination causes quite serious stress, especially for children, since the body’s response to it is a certain reaction.
Despite the fact that in most cases it can be predicted, we should not forget that each person is individual and can react differently to the same impact. This explains the ban, why you can’t get the injection wet.
When the vaccination site gets wet, the likelihood of developing skin irritation or other adverse reactions increases.
When the causative agent of diphtheria enters the body, a strong response is observed, causing high body temperature. On contact with water it increases even more.
How long after vaccination can you wash your child?
The question of when it is allowed to bathe a baby after vaccination worries almost all parents.
As mentioned above, it is not recommended to carry out water procedures on the day of vaccination, as well as for another two days after, provided there are no other contraindications.
The main goal of immunization is to build immunity to a specific disease. Its essence is to introduce a certain amount of bacteria, allowing the body to fight them. And this is accompanied by an increase in the child’s temperature and poor health.
Some children respond well to vaccination, however, if the temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius, then taking baths is strictly contraindicated.
The reaction to the vaccine can be in the form of:
- stool disorders;
- lack of appetite;
- vomiting;
- temperature rise;
- redness of the skin at the injection site;
- swelling.
If the symptoms do not disappear after 3-4 days, then the child should be shown to a specialist and protected from washing.
The ban on bathing a child also means that the body’s defenses are significantly reduced. All energy is directed towards producing antibodies to the disease, which increases the likelihood of the virus entering the body through water.
You can bathe your baby if the water is safe.
It is best to use boiled liquid with the addition of herbal infusions. Parents must create the most comfortable conditions for their child, without creating additional stress on the child’s body.
If your baby likes to bathe before going to bed, then there is no need to limit him in that.
The main thing is to carry out the procedure quickly, avoiding hypothermia. Baths can be replaced by washing with warm water or taking a shower.
How long does the vaccine last on the body?
Tetanus vaccination is carried out 3 times:
- The vaccine is administered to a child for the first time at 3 months.
- The next 2 vaccinations are performed within 45 days.
DPT is a combined vaccine, the name of which stands for pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccine. It must be performed every 1.5 years. Before attending school, children at the age of 7 are given an anti-diphtheria injection, which has a temporary effect. It is used in small dosages. The next time vaccination is carried out at the age of 10-12 years, but only against diphtheria, and already at 15-17 years another ADSM is performed.
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If all administration dates have been met, the effect of the vaccine will last about 10 years. In the future, you can protect the body from infection if you carry out revaccination every 10 years. The last vaccine is administered to a person at an old age - 56 years.
Attention! Correct adherence to all procedures and the number of vaccine administrations will prevent the development of infection in a person, or its course will be much easier, and after timely treatment, recovery will occur. The given vaccination schedule is followed and accepted throughout the world. Timely administration of an anti-tetanus solution will protect a person from the need to re-use it if injured.
Quite often, when admitted to the hospital with an open injury, a person does not remember the last time he received a tetanus shot. Then, during the surgical procedure, the doctor must introduce AC toxoid and tetanus immunoglobulin into the patient’s body. For this reason, the first thing a person should remember is the time that has passed since the last vaccination.
Where is the vaccine given?
If you follow the instructions for using the ADS drug, then for children the injection is injected into the thigh muscle or subscapular region. For adults, the solution is administered subcutaneously (in these areas the skin thickness should be small). By injecting serum into muscle tissue, a healthcare professional reduces the risk of developing negative consequences and side symptoms. It is better to carry out the preventive procedure on an empty stomach, then immunization will proceed as quickly and easily as possible for the body.
Before vaccination, 3 days before the vaccination, the child should be given antiallergic drugs - Zyrtec or Fenistil (1 tablet per day). Before the manipulation, the health worker must check the ampoule. It must be marked accordingly. There should be no sediment or flakes.
When a vaccine is given urgently
There are a number of situations in which urgent prophylaxis against tetanus is carried out:
- injuries characterized by damage to the skin and mucous membrane;
- frostbite;
- thermal injury of 2-4th degree;
- penetrating wounds;
- births and abortions performed outside a hospital;
- accumulation of abscesses in a small area of the dermis;
- gangrene;
- long-term abscesses;
- damage to the dermis and mucous membrane due to animal bites.
What to do if water gets on the injection site
It is immediately worth noting that there is no categorical ban on washing after vaccination against diphtheria. The main thing is not to rub the injection site with a washcloth and do not allow soap or other shower products to get on it.
From this we can conclude that even if it was not possible to protect the wound from getting wet, then you should not panic, since this will not cause serious harm to the body. In this case, you can use a paper towel or napkin and carefully remove any remaining liquid without rubbing or combing the graft.
Vaccine options
Diphtheria vaccines are based on diphtheria toxoid, which is a modified bacterial toxin that induces a protective antitoxin. The diphtheria vaccine is a toxoid adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide.
Diphtheria toxoid is also produced in combination with tetanus toxoid (ADS, ADS-m vaccinations) and pertussis vaccine (whole cell - DPT, Bubo-M, Bubo-Kok; and acellular or acellular - Infanrix, Pentaxim, Tetraxim, Infanrix Penta, InfanrixHexa) . Preventive vaccinations allow you to create long-term and intense antitoxic immunity against diphtheria. The DTP vaccination consists of a mixture of corpuscular pertussis vaccine, diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. ADS toxoid is purified and adsorbed diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. ADS-M-toxoid differs from ADS in its reduced antigen content - one vaccination dose (0.5 ml) contains 5 LF (a unit of measurement of the activity of components) of diphtheria toxoid and 5 EC (a unit of measurement of the activity of components) of tetanus toxoid (for comparison, 0 .5 ml of ADS vaccination contains 30 LF of diphtheria toxoid and 20 EC of tetanus toxoid).
All vaccines for the prevention of diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough are inactivated (killed), that is, they do not contain anything living. It is known that individual antigens in their pure form and inactivated vaccines are inferior in effectiveness to live vaccines. In this regard, aluminum hydroxide is used as an amplifier (so-called adjuvant) for vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (and a number of other infections). The point of using this substance is to enhance the inflammatory reaction at the site of vaccine administration and, as a result, intensify immune reactions and increase the effectiveness of vaccination in general.
What could be the negative consequences?
We must not forget that vaccination against diphtheria exposes the body, especially children, to serious stress.
In addition, a small wound remains on the surface of the skin. It is through this that pathogenic bacteria and viruses can penetrate inside during bathing.
Since during the period of immunization the body is weakened and more susceptible to various diseases, it is possible that health problems may arise.
But this reason, which explains why it is not recommended to wet the diphtheria injection, is only indirect.
Expert opinion
Nikolaeva Elena Sergeevna
Practicing pediatrician.
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Most often, experts explain their ban on contact with water by the development of an allergic reaction, which is possible not only in childhood, but also in adults. When exposed to water, soap or a towel, such a response of the body can only worsen or not manifest itself at all, and the main task of the doctor is to monitor how the body reacts to the injection.
In addition, complications such as:
- temperature;
- redness of the skin;
- severe itching.
To eliminate possible risks, doctors strongly advise you to adhere to their recommendations and not allow water to get into the injection site, not only on the day of vaccine administration, but also for two more days after.
Why do you need a tetanus shot?
Tetanus is a serious disease that causes muscle spasms. The danger comes from the infectious agent, as well as the toxins released by it. They are practically untreatable.
Tetanus vaccination is necessary for the following reasons:
- every year a large number of people die from this disease;
- the causative agent of the disease is always in the body of herbivores, and sometimes in humans, and when favorable conditions are created, it has a destructive effect;
- transmission of the pathogen is carried out through contact and household contact, through wounds and abrasions on the skin;
- the toxin that is released during the life of pathogens is considered one of the most dangerous to human life;
- infection of the human body can occur from anyone and anything: from dirt that has penetrated into a wound, a splinter, through an animal bite, or the saliva of an affected person.
You can prevent the development of infection with a vaccination called DTP. It is performed on babies from 3 months. Older children and adults are recommended to receive ADS and AS vaccinations.
