Choose your time
Although an allergic disease in a child is not a contraindication to vaccination, it requires an individual vaccination schedule. Children with allergies should not be vaccinated during an exacerbation, that is, during severe manifestations of atopic dermatitis, asthma or hay fever. In case of hay fever, vaccination should be avoided throughout the flowering season, even if there are no strong manifestations of allergies at the moment. It is best to wait for a period of complete “calm” to avoid unnecessary stress on the immune system.
Article on the topic Vaccinations: what's new? Changes in the calendar and legislation
vaccinations for allergy sufferers
I personally am used to thinking that if you have an allergy (and it seems to be worsening now) you don’t get vaccinated.
Today we came to our pediatrician, who is sleeping and seeing how we could finally get vaccinated (the third DPT and vaccine have not been done yet), she tells us that our rash, with itching and redness, is not that bad large (from the hands to the elbows, the entire stomach and legs), that they didn’t even vaccinate people like that, they say.
According to her, vaccinations are also given to children who are completely allergic.
Has anyone had DPT done in similar cases? How did the child cope?
I really doubt.
and everything pisses me off
P,S. The blood test is said to be “excellent”
Upd.: found a list of contraindications for vaccinations.
https://www.privivka.ru/ru/expert/russian/?id=172#sub_131
Citizens who have an updated Consultant or something like that, check the relevance of this document, please...
so here's an interesting excerpt from there
13. False contraindications for vaccination!!!, allergies, according to these guidelines. instructions, damn it, that applies to them..
13.1. The contraindications listed in Table 1 occur less frequently than in 1% of children. Not much more often, conditions are identified that require not a “withdrawal”, but only a delay in immunization. In practice, even in regions with a high level of vaccination coverage, children are often “withdrawn” from vaccination (permanently or for long periods) without any contraindications. The main reasons for such deviations are perinatal encephalopathy, allergies and anemia. Parental refusal, which is often cited in regions with low vaccination coverage, occurs in less than 1% of cases. All these conditions should be considered as false contraindications (Table 3). The use by a pediatrician of the false contraindications listed in Table 3 and other false contraindications should be considered as evidence of his incompetence in matters of immunoprophylaxis with all the ensuing measures.
A number of conditions on this list, however, pose certain diagnostic and therapeutic tasks for the pediatrician, the solution of which is quite possible before vaccination.
Table 3 Conditions Indications in the anamnesis of Perinatal encephalopathy Stable neurological conditions Allergies, asthma, eczema Anemia Enlarged thymic shadow Congenital defects Dysbacteriosis Maintenance therapy Topical steroids Prematurity Hemolytic disease of the newborn Sepsis Hyaline membrane disease Post-vaccination complications in the family Allergies in the family Epilepsy in the family Sudden death in family
Make sure the vaccine is safe
Before vaccinating a child, you need not only to make sure that the vaccine is of good quality, but also to clarify its composition, since it may be unsuitable for an allergy sufferer. Some vaccination preparations (for example, live measles-rubella-mumps vaccine) are prepared on chicken embryos and are contraindicated if you are allergic to chicken egg white. If you are allergic to baker's yeast, you should not receive the hepatitis B vaccine, and if you are allergic to gelatin, you should not receive the chickenpox vaccine. Sensitive children often react poorly to the pertussis component of the DTP vaccine, and doctors recommend vaccinating them against diphtheria and tetanus with the ADSM vaccine, which is considered to have a milder effect. If a child is allergic to antibiotics, live and multi-component vaccines are dangerous for him. In general, when vaccinating allergy sufferers, it is better to avoid live and multicomponent vaccines as much as possible. The vaccination schedule is extended over time, but it will be better for the child’s body.
Useful to know about VACCINATION AGAINST ALLERGY (allergivaksinasjon)
VACCINATIONS AGAINST ALLERGIES ( allergivaksinasjon )
Useful information about allergy vaccination – Information sheet from the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association
Vaccination is an alternative form of treatment for long-term and acute allergies when the use of conventional medications does not provide a satisfactory effect. Treatment is also called hyposensitization or special immunotherapy. The principle of treatment is to reduce allergy symptoms by injecting the substance that causes the allergy.
This should not be confused with cortisone injections for allergies. Cortisone injections should only be used when a quick response to serious symptoms is needed and other treatments have not been effective.
Antiallergic vaccination is performed by injecting small doses of an extract of the allergen to which the body reacts under the skin. Initial doses should be small enough not to cause an allergic reaction. Doses are gradually increased until a level of tolerance is reached. This optimal dose is usually administered at intervals of 6-8 weeks for 3-5 years. Thus, it is possible to achieve the development in the body of tolerance to the allergen used in the course of treatment.
In what cases is this treatment used?
Vaccination can be used for most types of pollen allergies (birch, hazel, grass). Antiallergy vaccination is also used to reduce the risk of life-threatening reactions in people suffering from acute allergies to bee and wasp stings. In some cases, vaccination is used for allergies to animals and house ticks. Studies have shown that allergy vaccinations may prevent the development of asthma later or provide greater control of allergic asthma. However, people suffering from acute asthma should not receive allergy vaccinations.
Pollen allergy vaccination with Grazax tablets is an approved treatment for adults and children over five years of age who suffer from pollen allergies. The medicine is a lozenge containing extracts of timothy pollen allergens.
Who is the vaccine for?
Before considering vaccination, treatment with conventional allergy medications, antihistamines, and topical medications for eye and nasal symptoms is necessary. If symptoms persist after such treatment, vaccination may be a good alternative.
Allergy vaccination is not recommended for children under 5 years of age, or for individuals with uncontrolled asthma, serious cardiovascular disease, or cancer. Vaccination should not be started during pregnancy.
Allergy vaccination should not begin during pollen season and dose increases should be completed before pollen season begins. For example, increasing the dose of birch allergen should be completed between July and February, grass - between September and April, and wormwood - between October and April.
Allergy vaccination requires a proven allergy using a skin test or blood test. Pulmonary function testing should also be performed before starting treatment.
The costs of allergy vaccinations are covered by the state insurance fund or by a “blue prescription”. Other vaccines may be covered solely on an individual basis.
For allergy vaccinations using Grazax tablets, a lozenge is taken every day for three years, and treatment should begin four months before the start of pollen season.
Grazax entitles you to reimbursement for moderate to severe seasonal pollen allergies for at least two years, in cases where other treatments have failed to achieve sufficient control of the disease or have resulted in side effects. Reimbursement also provides that the patient does not receive vaccines containing extracts of other allergens. The right to reimbursement of expenses applies to children over five years of age, as well as to adults.
Where is vaccination carried out?
Vaccination against allergies should only be carried out by a lung specialist, otolaryngologist or pediatrician with allergy specialization.
Danger of side effects
Allergy vaccinations carry a certain risk of side effects. These may include mild symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes and larynx, or serious, sometimes life-threatening symptoms such as difficulty breathing or anaphylactic shock. This is especially true for the initial phase of vaccination and the moment immediately after the injection. Therefore, vaccination must be carried out in specially designated places where there are means of providing assistance in case of possible serious complications. This is also why you should not leave the vaccination site for 30 minutes after taking the last dose of the drug. During the first 24 hours after the injection, local reactions may occur, such as swelling of the skin, so physical activity should be avoided for the first 24 hours after vaccination.
The most common side effects of vaccination using Grazax tablets are local allergic reactions in the mouth in the form of burning or swelling of the sublingual area. In most cases, these reactions subside within a few weeks from the start of vaccination.
What is the effect of the treatment?
There is documentation that vaccination is an effective form of treatment that can reduce allergic symptoms, improve the allergy sufferer's quality of life, and thereby significantly reduce the use of other medications. For most patients, the effect will be permanent. However, some patients may not experience significant improvement. It is impossible to determine in advance whether vaccination will have an effect for a particular patient.
Allergy vaccination itself is a form of treatment that requires a lot of time and money. The risk of side effects and the fact that not everyone will feel better after treatment makes it necessary to weigh the pros and cons before starting vaccination.
The development of new and more effective forms of immunotherapy provides hope for more reliable treatments and improved outcomes in the future.
The facts about allergy vaccination have been developed jointly with the medical council of the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association.
Prevention measures
When planning to vaccinate even a healthy child, it is good to do tests of his blood and urine shortly before vaccination to make sure that there is no hidden incubation period of the disease in the body. As for allergy sufferers, it is advisable for them to also take antihistamines three days before vaccination, on the day of vaccination and three days after it. Just in case, this should also be done for children with a possible predisposition to allergies (when there are allergy sufferers among close relatives), in whom vaccination can act as a “trigger” for the onset of the disease.
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Rarely, an acute allergic reaction known as serum sickness or anaphylactic shock occurs immediately after vaccination, and children with allergies are at greater risk than others. No matter how low the likelihood of this happening, it is better not to leave the clinic for at least half an hour after vaccination - the treatment room has everything necessary for urgent assistance in such cases. If your child becomes ill after you return home, you need to call an ambulance.
Vaccinations and allergies
Vaccination has long been the most reliable way to prevent many infectious diseases and their complications.
More than two hundred years have passed since the discovery of the first vaccine, and during this period diseases such as whooping cough, tetanus, polio and many other dangerous infections have almost completely disappeared. On the other hand, changes in the ecology and lifestyle of people have led to the fact that residents of many countries are faced with “diseases of civilization,” among which allergies are the most common.
Every day, parents are faced with an abundance of information about vaccinations, among which it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. Mothers and fathers of healthy babies are asking questions: is it possible to develop allergic reactions to a vaccine, will the vaccine cause the development of an allergic disease? Moreover, it can be difficult for parents to make a decision about vaccinating their child, knowing that he suffers from an allergic disease. After all, a vaccine, like any drug, has indications and contraindications. Questions arise about whether vaccination will worsen allergies?
Let's try to figure out together whether a child with allergies needs vaccinations, and how to make vaccination as safe as possible for those who are prone to allergies or suffer from allergic pathology.
So, you need to remember that allergies in themselves are not contraindications for vaccination.
Patients with allergy pathology can be vaccinated against all infections included in the national vaccination schedule. It should be remembered that most modern vaccines are as purified as possible from ballast substances, which minimizes the risk of developing allergies in response to vaccinations or exacerbation of allergies.
A contraindication to vaccination is if your child is allergic to the components included in the vaccinations. For example, a hepatitis B vaccine cannot be given if there is evidence of an allergy to yeast. An allergy to a number of antibiotics or a chicken egg may be a reason to avoid vaccinations against measles, rubella and mumps. In case of a reaction to gelatin, vaccination against chickenpox is contraindicated.
Let me remind you that we are talking about confirmed and pronounced allergic reactions, such as Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock. If the reactions are minor (small rash), occurring once, without repetition, then vaccination is not contraindicated.
An exacerbation of an allergic disease is also a contraindication for vaccinations, although it is temporary. If your child suffers from bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis or any form of allergic pathology, vaccination is carried out only in the absence of symptoms.
If a child at the time of scheduled vaccination is bothered by attacks of difficulty breathing, runny nose, swelling, or skin rashes, the doctor will postpone the vaccination until he recovers. In this case, vaccination can be carried out while continuing allergy treatment, which is prescribed by the doctor in accordance with the complaints and severity of the disease.
If vaccination is carried out to an allergic person during the “lull of the disease”, as a measure to prevent exacerbations, antihistamines (anti-allergic) drugs are prescribed in a short course for 3-6 days before and after vaccination.
If your child suffers from a seasonal allergy to pollen, routine vaccinations are recommended in the winter, when flowering is excluded. If the allergy is associated with sensitivity to house dust and mite allergens, you can get vaccinated in the summer, when the risk of exacerbations in such patients is lower.
Follow your diet. 1-2 weeks before vaccination, do not introduce new foods; offer your child only those foods that do not cause allergic reactions in him. Also, for 2 weeks before and 1-3 months after vaccination, it is better to refrain from highly allergenic foods, such as chocolate, citrus fruits, milk, fish, eggs, honey, cheese, nuts, cocoa, strawberries, raspberries. Products containing artificial color dyes, preservatives, spices, and flavors are especially dangerous.
If your child is scheduled to undergo a Mantoux test or skin allergy tests, then vaccinations are allowed to be administered 10-14 days after these diagnostic tests, or they should be postponed for 1-1.5 months after vaccination.
If you are undergoing a course of specific immunotherapy or plan to start treatment with allergens, vaccination is recommended 1.5-2 months before the start of therapy or the same time after the end of the course. Exceptions include emergency vaccination for epidemiological reasons. In this situation, it is necessary to consult with an allergist who provides allergy therapy.
Remember that if a child suffers from allergic rhinitis or asthma, any respiratory disease can lead to an exacerbation of allergies. Therefore, it is important that the child is promptly vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococcal infections, which underlie sore throats, sinusitis, otitis, as well as such serious diseases as pneumonia and meningitis. Additionally, annual flu vaccination is recommended, unless there are contraindications.
Vaccination is carried out after mandatory consultation and examination by a doctor. Do not forget to tell the doctor about the presence of allergies in the family, about the child’s allergic manifestations and diseases, about the presence of reactions to medications, about how previous vaccinations went and whether reactions to them were noted.
Important! Do not leave the clinic for 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine! If an allergic reaction occurs, which most often occurs in the first half hour, the doctors at the clinic will be able to help you.
If you have a family history of allergic diseases, you yourself or your child suffer from allergies, when planning vaccination, consult with an allergist. The doctor will help you choose adequate treatment and plan vaccination, minimizing possible risks.
Be healthy!
Author of the article: Kolchina Anna Sergeevna, candidate of medical sciences, allergist-immunologist at the Medical Allergy Center, Tomsk
What to do with the Mantoux reaction?
The Mantoux reaction is not formally a vaccination, but nevertheless it is the introduction of a foreign substance into the body, which often causes allergies. The disadvantage of this procedure is that it too often gives a false positive reaction. Almost all allergy sufferers react this way to the component of the drug – tuberculin. Therefore, children with allergies or a tendency to it need to do Mantoux under the guise of antihistamines or use other methods of testing for tuberculosis. For example, there is a diagnostic developed in Russia called Diaskintest: not tuberculin is injected under the skin, but a recombinant protein that causes an immune reaction only to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. But although this drug is considered less allergenic, it is still better to administer it while taking antihistamines.
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You can also resort to an alternative option for diagnosing tuberculosis - taking blood from a vein for analysis. This is a more complex and lengthy procedure, but it is also more gentle on the immune system of an allergic child.
Double benefit
There are vaccinations that are especially... useful for allergy sufferers. For example, in case of virus-induced bronchial asthma (allergy to viral infections), such a vaccination can protect against an allergic reaction to a viral disease. It is also recommended that all children with allergies be promptly vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus, because the risk of acute allergic reactions to treatment - the administration of anti-tetanus and anti-diphtheria serums - is much higher than to the toxoids that are used in vaccines against these diseases.
