When the baby turns three months old, it's time to do the first DTP vaccination. It is aimed at developing in the child's body immunity to such serious infectious diseases as pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus. The same vaccine against these diseases is not used today. It was replaced by new effective drugs. And here is the question for mothers: which vaccine is best for your baby - Infanrix or Pentaxim? How are they different, what are the contraindications and how are they endured by the children? But first things first.
Differences in the composition of vaccines
Of course, it is necessary to start with the fact that these two vaccines have been developed by highly reputable foreign pharmaceutical companies. Therefore, we can say with confidence that these are well-cleaned and safe preparations. They contain not the causative agent of the disease, but only its fragmented antigens. But this statement is 100 percent true only for the drug Infanriks. But in the vaccine "Pentaxim" still included inactivated agents of poliomyelitis. But they are completely devoid of their virulence. Despite such similarity of these two drugs, it is very difficult to answer which is better and safer - Infanrix or Pentaxim. Yes, and compare them, based on the composition, wrong. After all, the vaccine "Infanriks" includes three components, and the drug "Pentaxim" - five, it added antigens of poliomyelitis and causative agent of hemophilic infection. It is also important that mercury is absent among the concomitant substances, but there is aluminum hydroxide and not harmless formaldehyde.
Contraindications to the use of the drug Infanrix
So, Infanriks or Pentaxim? Making a choice between vaccines, it is not superfluous to get acquainted with the contraindications to the use of these drugs. In the first place, the Infanrix vaccine is banned for people with intolerance to be injected into the components that make up it, or if this drug has already been used and an allergic reaction has occurred. Typically, the symptoms of hypersensitivity are high body temperature (39-40 o C) and swelling more than 8 cm in diameter at the site of the injection. There may be more severe complications, such as a shock condition, continuous crying lasting three hours or more, seizures.
Contraindications to the use of the Pentaxim vaccine
The choice of preparations for the DTP vaccination is not at all great : either Pentaxim, or Infanrix. But how hard it is to determine these vaccines! The drug "Pentaxim" is not used if hypersensitivity to its components is observed. Also, it is not assigned to small patients with encephalopathy. This drug is strictly not recommended to children who have had a violent reaction within 48 hours after the previous vaccine, which contained the pertussis component. This is primarily such symptoms as convulsions, hyperthermia, continuous crying. Naturally, the vaccine "Pentaxim" is not administered to children if they have previously had an allergic reaction to its components. Also worth paying close attention to the place of administration of the drug. Swelling should be small. The vaccines "Pentaxim" and "Infanrix" are not introduced during the development of acute respiratory diseases in the body, which are accompanied by even a slight rise in temperature. Also from vaccination it is better to temporarily give up if there is an exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Adverse reactions of the drug "Infarriks"
Considering the contraindications to the use of vaccines "Pentaxim" and "Infarriks", differences can be found, but they are insignificant. Now you need to carefully review the adverse reactions that these drugs cause. Let's start, perhaps, with the vaccine "Infanriks." After its application, local symptoms may be observed. This is primarily redness, pain, slight swelling. It is also often possible to observe general symptoms - a slight increase in temperature, continuous crying, diarrhea and vomiting, drowsiness, refusal to eat, anxiety. But all of them disappear within 48 hours. After the appointment of the drug "Infanriks", rarely allergic reactions are noted. In isolated cases, the vaccine causes shock and convulsions. Also, in the practice of using the Infanrix vaccine, undesirable effects such as dermatitis, cough, bronchitis, rhinitis, respiratory disorders and otitis were noted. But these cases are extremely rare, their frequency does not exceed 2-4%.
Side effects of the vaccine "Pentaxim"
When using the vaccine "Pentaxim" in children, it is possible to develop local symptoms, as well as a number of unwanted systemic effects. At the site of administration of the vaccine, slight redness, small swelling and swelling may be observed. There is an increase in temperature to 39 o C. The child may be restless or, conversely, be listless and sleepy. Often after vaccination, diarrhea and vomiting appear. To more complex symptoms is the continuous crying of a child lasting three hours or more. All these side effects manifest themselves within 48 hours. They pass by themselves and do not require intervention from the physician. Among the systemic adverse reactions to the drug Pentaxim, sleep disorder and hyperthermia can also be identified. So what is better - Infanriks or Pentaxim? Judging by the side effects they cause in the baby's body, these two vaccines do not differ significantly from each other.
Cases of development of allergic reaction to vaccines "Pentaxim" and "Infarriks"
When using the drugs "Pentaxim" and "Infarriks" in infants during the first and subsequent administration of the vaccine, allergic reactions were very rare. There have been cases of the appearance of hives and rashes on the skin. It is also possible to develop hypotension. In single cases, febrile and afebrile convulsions appeared in children. But still the possibility of more serious complications is possible. Urgent therapy requires cases of anaphylactic reactions, including shock. That is why in the office where the vaccination procedure is carried out directly, antishock drugs should be present. In rare cases, children may develop an allergic reaction in the form of edema of the lower limbs. To answer the question, what is different about "Infanriks" from "Pentaxim" is difficult. Both drugs cause similar allergic reactions, which, incidentally, are relatively rare.
Special instructions for vaccination
Before the vaccination procedure, the pediatrician is required to study the anamnesis of a small patient. It is necessary to pay attention to the previous administration of the drugs, to check if there were allergic reactions. Next, the child is examined, the temperature is measured. If the baby has signs of developing an acute respiratory disease, then the vaccination should be postponed, as this is a contraindication to the introduction of drugs "Infarriks" and "Pentaxim." Vaccinations can be done only if the baby is completely healthy, so it is necessary to wait for the disappearance of all the symptoms of the disease and the normalization of body temperature. Since vaccines can cause such a formidable complication as anaphylactic shock, the child should be under the supervision of doctors for at least 30 minutes after the administration of the drug. Vaccines "Infanriks" and "Pentaxim" should be used with extreme caution in patients with a violation of the blood clotting system or thrombocytopenia. This is due to the fact that intramuscular injection can provoke bleeding. To avoid this, you need to press the injection site for three minutes without rubbing it.
How are vaccines carried by children?
Young parents, before whom there is a choice - "Infarriks" or "Pentaxim", primarily cares the possible consequences of vaccination for their baby. Knowing all the contraindications, complications and side effects, it is still impossible to predict how the baby's body cope with the vaccine. There is an opinion that the drug "Infanriks" is transferred easier, and the risk of developing local reactions to it is somewhat less. This vaccine contains only fragments of antigens of pathogenic microorganisms of pathogens of dangerous infections, and this reduces the likelihood of systemic complications. But, on the other hand, it is necessary for the child to inject the missing components with separate vaccinations, and this, on the contrary, increases the risks of local reactions. So which drug is more reliable - Infanrix or Pentaxim? The reviews show that they are both trustworthy. And what kind of vaccine to choose is the business of every parent.
Drug Interactions
Following the rules adopted in the Russian Federation, "Infantricks" and "Pentaxim" preparations can be administered on the same day as other vaccines that are included in the National Schedule of Prophylactic Inoculations. But it must be remembered that other substances should be injected into other parts of the body. It is allowed to mix Infanriks and Hiberix vaccines, but the solvent is not used. Yet many pediatricians do not approve of the simultaneous administration of several vaccines. Such loads on the immunity of the child, in their opinion, increase the risk of complications.
Can I use Infanrix after Pentaxim?
Of course, all vaccines are interchangeable. But here it is worth remembering that the drug "Pentaxim" contains antibodies at once from five pathogens of infectious diseases. But in the vaccine "Infanricks" there are only three of them. Therefore, if possible, avoid using different medications. It is best to stop at one and only vaccinate them. In principle, it is more reliable to prescribe the drug "Pentaxim" or "Infanrix hexa", which contains not three but six components. But, unfortunately, it is not produced in Russia, so you can not call it cheap.