Parotitis. Vaccines.

Mumps is an acute infectious disease of viral etiology. It is primarily a childhood disease, most commonly affecting children between the ages of 5 and 9 years. However, mumps virus can affect adults with possible complications that are likely to be severe. Complications of mumps may include meningitis (up to 15% of cases), orchitis, and deafness. Very rarely, mumps can lead to encephalitis and chronic neurological disease.

Principles and purposes of vaccination

Vaccination is included in the mandatory calendar of preventive vaccinations due to the risk of complications during mumps. An insufficiently high level of vaccination coverage with the mumps vaccine (less than 80%) can lead to undesirable epidemiological changes - a shift in the incidence of mumps to older age groups of the population. By the end of 2013, mumps vaccine had been introduced nationally in 120 countries.

Prevention consists of vaccinating children with a live mumps vaccine in accordance with the vaccination schedule.

Compatibility with other vaccines

Vaccination against mumps can be carried out simultaneously (on the same day) with other vaccinations included in the National Vaccination Calendar (vaccinations against measles, rubella, polio, hepatitis B, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, influenza, Haemophilus influenzae) provided they are administered in different areas body or no earlier than 1 month after the previous vaccination. After the administration of human immunoglobulin preparations, vaccinations against mumps are carried out no earlier than 2 months later. After administration of the Mumps vaccine, immunoglobulin preparations can be administered no earlier than 2 weeks later. If it is necessary to use immunoglobulin earlier than this period, vaccination against mumps should be repeated.

Vaccine effectiveness

The most common post-vaccination reactions following mumps vaccination are enlarged submandibular lymph nodes and low-grade fever. In addition, a moderate rise in temperature, local and allergic reactions are also observed.

Most children do not have any side effects after vaccination. There may be a slight increase in body temperature, a short-term (2-3 days) slight increase in the parotid salivary glands (from the 4th to the 15th day after vaccination).

Danger of mumps

The causative agent of mumps is considered to be an RNA virus that causes damage to glandular organs and the central nervous system. The viral infection spreads through the air and saliva. You can become infected with mumps at any age, however, the disease is most often observed in children three years old and older.

Infection with mumps occurs through direct contact with an infected patient, using his things, toys, and dishes. Virus particles can be functional in the external environment for some period of time and not die from the influence of low temperatures.

The incubation time for mumps is from 1.5 to 3 weeks. Then the patient experiences an increase in temperature to 39, weakness in the body, and apathy. The disease affects the salivary and parotid glands, they become inflamed, pain and swelling appear. Mumps often leads to pain when chewing food, which is why most patients refuse to eat.

Complications

Mumps is better known for the complications that develop after an illness. One of them is inflammation of the pancreas, accompanied by severe pain in the stomach area. Such a pathological process is predicted to be observed by specialists throughout life, since complete tissue restoration no longer occurs.

Other complications of the mumps virus include infectious diseases such as encephalitis with meningoencephalitis, characterized by brain damage with and without the development of inflammation of the membrane. Such disorders are often factors in disability or death after mumps.

A rare but possible complication is deafness, which occurs due to damage to the ears.

To avoid encountering the above diseases, it is better not to refuse to vaccinate your child.

The main positive argument is the reduction in the incidence of the disease due to routine vaccinations against mumps.

Post-vaccination reactions

The most common adverse reactions following mumps vaccination are enlarged submandibular lymph nodes and low-grade fever. In addition, a moderate rise in temperature, local and allergic reactions are also observed.

Routine immunization against mumps, vaccination schedule, revaccination

According to the planned vaccination calendar in Russia, the first vaccination should be given to a child upon reaching one year of age. Up to a year, the child retains maternal antibodies to mumps and some other infectious diseases. The vaccine is administered under the skin or intramuscularly, usually under the shoulder blade or in the upper arm. Revaccination of children is carried out at 6 years of age. After this, there is no need to repeat the vaccination. The effectiveness of vaccination drugs is considered high, and immunity after the procedure in almost all cases lasts for life, that is, the vaccine is valid for the rest of your life.

If there are temporary contraindications for primary vaccination, it can be postponed until the age of one and a half years.

In addition to routine vaccination, there are also emergency cases for administering the vaccine. For example, the procedure is carried out in the first 2 days after contact with a sick person in order to avoid a severe course of the disease, as well as dangerous consequences. In addition, if a person was not vaccinated again in childhood, provided there are no contraindications, he can be vaccinated as an adult at his own request.

If the epidemic situation regarding mumps becomes threatening, and the incidence exceeds a certain epidemiological threshold, vaccinations against mumps can be carried out urgently and unscheduled. The procedure is carried out for all children and adolescents who have not been sick before, have not been vaccinated, or have not undergone revaccination, at any age over one year.

It is recommended that teenage boys undergo a blood test to check for antibodies to mumps. If they are absent, revaccination is necessary. Adolescents experience the disease very hard and are at high risk of developing complications.

In what cases should vaccination not be carried out? Contraindications to vaccination are:

oncological diseases;
blood diseases;
allergy to vaccine components;
acute conditions of any disease;
intolerance to aminoglycoside antibiotics;
immunodeficiency states;
allergic reactions to previous vaccinations;
exacerbation of any chronic diseases.

If blood transfusion is necessary, vaccination is postponed for three months. Pregnancy is a temporary contraindication, and immediately after childbirth a woman can be vaccinated.

Symptoms of mumps (mumps)

The disease usually begins acutely. The following symptoms appear:

temperature (over 38°C);
headache;
general weakness, loss of appetite;
pain while chewing or talking.

Towards the end of the first or second day of the disease, swelling occurs in the area of the parotid gland; the skin becomes stretched, touching this place is painful. Usually one gland swells first, and the next day or every other day the second one, on the other side, swells. The patient's face takes on a puffy appearance. The maximum increase in glands occurs on the third day, after which the swelling begins to subside and within a week the face

Complications of mumps

Severe forms of mumps are associated with damage to various organs by the virus. The pancreas, testicles in boys and ovaries in girls are most often affected. Mumps can lead to infertility. Another serious complication, which unfortunately occurs quite often, is meningitis.

Are girls vaccinated?

There is an opinion that only boys need vaccination against mumps. It is they who experience such a complication as infertility. In fact, all children need vaccinations, regardless of gender.

The consequences of the disease are extremely dangerous. As a result of its development, the nervous system and brain may be affected. In rare cases, damage to the ovaries is observed, which also leads to infertility.

Pros and cons of vaccination

There are many arguments that encourage parents to agree to vaccinate their child.

Namely:

before mass immunization, the disease was diagnosed in almost all children;
the virus is capable of triggering the onset of an inflammatory process in the organs of the reproductive system;
in boys, as a result of the illness, testicular atrophy is possible, leading to infertility;
there is a risk of developing pancreatitis;
a dangerous complication of the pathology is inflammation of the brain, leading to disability and death;
development of deafness is possible.

All these problems can be avoided if immunization is carried out in a timely manner. The only disadvantage of performing the procedure is the risk of side effects.

Is it possible to refuse

Parents have the right to refuse vaccination. If such a decision is made, a written refusal must be written annually. It should be understood that by such actions adults deliberately expose the child to danger.

The body's reaction to the vaccine is weak. If the disease develops, the consequences can be very serious.

Side effects that may occur

The mumps vaccine is usually well tolerated by both adults and children. The human body is individual, so sometimes negative reactions to vaccination may occur. Their severity may vary, but for the most part they do not require medical attention.

These effects include:

delayed symptoms that appear one to two weeks after vaccination: fever, loss of appetite, insomnia (in children - excessive moodiness);
slight enlargement of glands;
signs inherent in the initial stages of viral diseases: catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, nasal congestion, hyperemia of the throat and enlarged tonsils, dry cough.

Typically, such symptoms are short-lived, go away on their own and do not require special treatment. If individuals are prone to allergies, more serious problems may arise after vaccination. The temperature may rise to febrile levels, and convulsions may begin. But such cases, fortunately, are rare and require immediate help.

Reactions that can cause irreversible processes in the body:

general intoxication of the body;
damage to the membranes of the brain with the development of meningitis and encephalitis;
severe allergies such as Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock.

Important! If the child’s condition progressively deteriorates and the complications mentioned above appear in the child, emergency doctors should be immediately called for emergency hospitalization.

Types of vaccines

According to the requirements of the World Health Organization, there are 3 types of mumps vaccination.

one-component;
two-component;
three-component.

When vaccinated with a single-component vaccine, a person receives only a weakened mumps virus.

Two-component vaccination involves a person receiving weakened viruses of 2 diseases (rubella-mumps, measles-mumps).

Three-component vaccination is characterized by the production of weakened viruses of 3 diseases.

The following types of mumps vaccines are allowed:

Live mumps vaccine.
Mumps-measles cultural live.
Priorix (Belgium).
MMR 2 (USA).

ZhVP - the medicine is administered 1 time subcutaneously in the area of the scapula or the outer part of the shoulder. A second vaccination against mumps is given to people who do not develop antibodies in their blood after vaccination.

Priorix is a complex vaccine preparation. It consists of lyophilized weakened viruses, developing immunity immediately against measles, rubella and mumps. After the first vaccination, 96% of vaccinated people develop protective antibodies.

The graft is done inside the muscle, in the shoulder area or in the upper thigh. The first time is vaccinated a year, then at the age of six and fifteen years. People from the age of twenty are vaccinated every 10 years.

The three-component American vaccine is MMR 2. It protects the vaccinated person from rubella, measles and mumps. The duration of immunity is 11 years.

Mumps-measles live vaccine is a divaccine that develops immunity against mumps and measles. The vaccine is administered at 1 and 6 years of age.

Most often, clinics use a domestic live attenuated drug.

List of contraindications

There are contraindications to immunization. Some of them are temporary, but some are absolute.

Procedures are postponed in the following cases:

acute diseases;
manifestations of allergies (rashes, urticaria);
immunoglobulin administered less than three months ago;
recent blood transfusion procedure;
exacerbation of chronic pathologies.

In such situations, the doctor adjusts the vaccination schedule. Immunization is carried out after the baby has recovered.

Among the absolute contraindications to the administration of the vaccine are the following:

allergies to antibiotics and chicken protein;
benign and malignant tumors;
HIV;
complications occurred during the first vaccination;
tuberculosis;
severe blood diseases.

Tips to reduce the risk of adverse reactions

In order to avoid an allergic reaction to the vaccine, 10 days before vaccination, you should remove foods that can cause it from your baby’s diet. These are citruses, chocolate, tomatoes, strawberries. It is advised not to introduce new dishes and products into the diet. For three days before vaccination and 3 days after, it is necessary to give the child an antihistamine.

On the day of immunization, you should visit your pediatrician. He will assess your health and take your temperature. At the appointment, be sure to clarify which vaccination the child will receive and whether it causes any adverse reactions.

Most often, medical professionals recommend staying in the clinic for some time after vaccination. This will make it possible to provide medical assistance in the event of an acute allergic reaction. After vaccination, there is no need to change a person’s usual daily routine. So, the child adapts faster.

To increase the effectiveness of immunization, you should not visit crowded places for three days after the injection. Since the immune system is stressed and there is a risk of respiratory infections.

Timely vaccination against mumps helps protect the body from viral infection.

"MUMPS" - vaccine for the prevention of mumps

Live cultural mumps vaccine

Manufacturer: Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO MICROGEN Russia.

Protects against viral diseases: mumps.

Applicable: children aged 1 year and older.

Included in the National Vaccination Calendar.

Advantages of the Mumps vaccine:

Low reactogenicity, good tolerability of the vaccine.
Vaccine availability.
The drug meets WHO requirements.

Make a choice: to vaccinate or not?

On the one hand, mumps is not very uncommon in our regions, and almost every second person experiences it during childhood and adolescence. With adults, the situation is somewhat different: childhood infections are difficult to survive and often leave behind complications. However, both require routine or emergency immunizations. The following reasoning leads to this conclusion.

After the diagnosis of mumps was made in children's institutions, everyone knew in advance: this was not the only case, there would be more sick children. The disease took on the character of an epidemic and literally “mowed down” the ranks of children, knocking them and their parents out of their usual rut for a long time. With the introduction of vaccination, morbidity rates have decreased significantly.
Vaccinated children do not develop the disease, which means there is no danger of complications such as orchitis with subsequent development of infertility, pancreatitis, damage to the nervous, excretory, and cardiovascular systems. Mortality and disability rates have decreased.

Experts have different opinions. Some are of the opinion that the child simply needs to be protected by vaccination from a dangerous infection, as well as its consequences. This is argued by the fact that the vaccine is easily tolerated, leaving behind immunity for three to four years.

Others believe that a child should get sick in childhood. After all, mumps leaves lifelong immunity, unlike the short-term vaccine immunity. The majority still adheres to the first version.

Purpose of immunization

Until the mumps vaccine was invented, the pathology was epidemic in nature. As a result of mass immunization, only isolated cases of infection are now being recorded.

The main goal of vaccination is to protect a person from a dangerous infectious disease that can cause complications and make a person disabled..

After the serum is introduced into the body, the immune system begins to actively synthesize antibodies. The risk of infection becomes minimal.

How can the MMRV vaccine be dangerous?

The vaccine, like any other medicine, can cause serious consequences, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of the MMRV vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely low.

MMRV vaccination is much safer than measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

Most of those children who received the MMRV vaccine did not experience any side effects.

Mild consequences

Fever (about 1 in 5 children).
Mild rash (affects about 1 in 20 children).
Swelling of glands in the cheeks or neck (rare).

These effects may occur within 5 to 12 days after the first dose. After the second dose they are observed less frequently.

Moderate consequences

Cramps due to fever (occurs in about 1 child in 1,250 MMRV vaccinations), usually for 5 to 12 days after the first dose. They occur less frequently when the MMR vaccine and varicella vaccine are given as separate injections during the same visit (in about 1 in 2,500 children receiving the two vaccines), and very rarely after the 2nd dose MMRV.
A temporary decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, which can cause bleeding (in about 1 in 40,000 children).

Serious consequences (very rare)

Some serious effects have been observed in children after the MMR vaccine and may also occur after the MMRV vaccine. This includes severe allergic reactions (affecting less than 4 children per million) and consequences such as:

Deafness
Prolonged seizures, coma, or confusion
Incurable cerebral disorders

Such cases are so rare that experts cannot say for sure whether they were caused by the vaccine.