Tularemia is a particularly dangerous infection. The disease is included in the group of acute zoonotic infections with natural focus. Treatment of tularemia is not particularly difficult. The use of antibiotics in treatment has practically reduced the mortality from this disease to zero. The causative agents of tularemia ( Francisella tularensis) are highly sensitive to antibiotics of the aminoglycoside and tetracycline groups. Festering lymph nodes are opened surgically.
Tularemia prophylaxis is subdivided into specific and non-specific. Vaccination against tularemia protects against disease for a period of 5 to 7 years. Measures for epidemic surveillance of the disease are aimed at preventing the introduction and spread of infection. Timely identified natural foci of the disease among animals, carrying out deratization and disinsection measures prevent the spread of the disease among rodents and the transmission of the disease to humans.
Tularemia is a highly contagious disease. It is included in the list of infections subject to regional (national) surveillance. The natural susceptibility of a person to the disease reaches 100%.
Rice. 1. In the nature of the Russian Federation, tularemia bacteria most often infect hares, rabbits, hamsters, water rats and vole mice. The disease in them proceeds violently and always ends in death.
Tularemia treatment
Antibacterial drugs in the treatment of tularemia
Etiotropic therapy involves exposure to tularemia pathogens. Good effect on Francisella tularensis provide antibiotics of the aminoglycoside group (streptomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin) and tetracyclines (doxycycline). In case of allergy to antibacterial drugs of these groups, the use of third-generation cephalosporins, rifampicin and chloramphenicol is recommended. In parallel with the appointment of antibiotics, prevention of the development of dysbiosis is carried out.
Pathogenetic therapy in the treatment of tularemia
Pathogenetic therapy in the treatment of the disease is aimed at combating intoxication, hypovitaminosis, allergization of the body, and maintaining the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Local treatment of tularemia
Antiseptic dressings are used to treat skin ulcers. Physiotherapy is shown in the form of quartz, laser irradiation and diathermy. Festering buboes are opened surgically.
In the patient's ward, it is necessary to carry out current disinfection using modern disinfectants.
A patient with tularemia does not pose a danger to others.
Rice. 2. Contact (contact with sick animals and their biological material), alimentary (consumption of contaminated food and water), transmissible (bites of infected blood-sucking animals) and aerogenic (inhalation of infected dust) are ways of transmission of infection.
Prevention of tularemia
Tularemia prophylaxis is subdivided into specific and non-specific.
- Specific prevention of tularemia is the use of tularemia vaccine.
- Non-specific prevention includes a set of measures aimed at monitoring natural foci, identifying outbreaks of disease among animals and taking measures to destroy rodents and insects.
Epidemiological surveillance
Epidemiological surveillance is one of the methods for preventing tularemia. It includes continuous monitoring of the incidence of tularemia in humans and animals, the circulation of pathogens among blood-sucking arthropods and animals, systematic monitoring of the immune status of humans. The results obtained are used in the planning and implementation of a complex of anti-epidemic and preventive measures.
Rice. 3. The primary lymph node in the disease is large - from a walnut to 10 cm in diameter. Most often, the femoral, inguinal, elbow and axillary lymph nodes are enlarged.
Non-specific prevention of tularemia
Neutralization of sources of pathogenic bacteria
Neutralization of sources of pathogenic bacteria includes taking measures to destroy rodents (deratization) and insects (disinfestation).
Mechanical deratization is carried out in human dwellings, household buildings and grain storage facilities. Rodent penetration sites are identified and sealed in buildings. Deratization in the fields is not carried out.
Rice. 4. Neutralization of sources of pathogenic bacteria includes taking measures to destroy rodents (deratization) and insects (disinfestation).
Neutralization of transmission factors
Mosquitoes, horseflies, and ixodid and gamasid ticks carry the infection. The correct application of personal protective measures is the basis for the prevention of diseases caused by tick bites - and tularemia.
Rice. 5. Protective clothing prevents ticks from crawling onto human skin and rodent bites.
Rice. 6. The effect of repelling ticks with the correct use of repellents and acaricides reaches 95%.
How to protect yourself from tularemia
- The main sources of pathogens are rodents and lagomorphs. The larger the number of rodents, the higher the incidence of tularemia in their population. For fishermen, water rats are dangerous. When working in the habitats of sick animals, wear special clothing.
- To avoid contamination, it is recommended to store food in sealed containers and water in closed containers. Drink only boiled water.
- It is strictly forbidden to eat foods with traces of rodents.
- Wear latex gloves when skinning hares and muskrats. After cutting the skins, hands should be thoroughly washed and disinfected.
- To prevent the penetration of pathogenic bacteria through the mouth, swim in open bodies of water where swimming is allowed.
Preventive measures in the tularemia focus
When patients appear, an epidemic investigation is carried out (ways of infection and transmission of infection are determined). The issues of hospitalization and the duration of the patient's treatment are decided on an individual basis.
A patient with tularemia does not pose a danger to others
Only the patient's belongings contaminated with his secretions are subject to disinfection. Taking antibiotics is used as an emergency prevention measure. Appointed Rifampicin, Doxycycline or Tetracycline.
Rice. 7. Taking antibiotics rifampicin and doxycycline is used as an emergency prevention measure.
Vaccination and vaccination against tularemia
- Elbert-Gaisky's live attenuated dry tularemia vaccine is used for vaccination against the disease.
- Persons with a high risk of infection are subject to vaccination: fishermen, hunters, hunters, procurers, agricultural workers, builders, workers performing irrigation, deratization and disinsection work, geologists, workers of logging and clearing of recreation areas, persons whose work is associated with live cultures of pathogens tularemia.
- Vaccination against tularemia is carried out after a preliminary examination of a person for establishing an allergy to the components of the vaccine.
- Vaccination against tularemia contributes to the creation of strong immunity up to 5 - 7 years, after which revaccination is carried out.
- The vaccine is administered intradermally or intradermally (by the method of incisions) once.
- With skin grafting, manifestations can be in the form of slight redness along the incisions within 2 days (negative result), to hyperemia and edema from 5-10 days and the appearance of vesicles (positive result). After 10 - 15 days, a crust forms at the site of the notches, after it falls off, a scar forms.
- With the intradermal administration of the tularemia vaccine, a local reaction develops within 9 days - hyperemia and infiltration up to 4 cm in diameter. Swollen lymph nodes and a general reaction occur in isolated cases.
Vaccination against tularemia - is it really necessary today? Perhaps, treatment is much easier than injecting an unknown vaccine into your body? Let's try to understand all the pros and cons.
Brief outline
Vaccination is not mandatory according to the approved vaccination schedule. And, in fact, most of the population is generally not familiar with this disease, its causes and consequences.
This disease was previously referred to as "rodent disease", "minor plague" and "rabbit fever". People accurately noted its appearance with the presence of small rodents and found some similarity with the well-known bubonic plague. Conjectures and guesses turned out to be not so groundless - scientists have discovered the cause of the disease - the bacterium Francisella tularensis.
Carriers in nature, such indeed, are rodents of small breeds. A person becomes infected by contact through poor heat treatment of meat, contaminated water, mosquito bites and when the products of animal excretion get into food. That is why tularemia poses the greatest threat to rural residents, as well as to livestock workers.
Tularemia is an acute infectious disease of a focal nature of distribution, which is prone to massive damage to the population of adjacent territories. History has not met widespread epidemics because tularemia is extremely difficult to transmit.
At the turn of the 1990s and 2000s, in Russia, no more than 300 people were ascertained who were infected and this was due to the fact that the authorities canceled the mandatory vaccination, as it seemed to them from a frivolous infection.
This disease in almost 100% of cases is sensitive to treatment with standard broad-spectrum antibiotics (macrolides, fluoroquinolones), but the recovery process can take from 1 to 3 months.
Perhaps the main symptom of tularemia is swollen lymph nodes, which are called bubo in medical language. Inflammation of the bubo disappears 3 months after the start of active therapy.
No more than half of a percent of the total number of infected people have died, but tularemia is dangerous for its further complications such as croupous pneumonia, encephalopathy, acute delirious psychosis and multiple lesions of the joints of the arms and legs. Tularemia is characterized by a transition to a chronic course, after active antibiotic therapy. This can happen a few months after treatment, and if this process is allowed, the chronic course will worsen, which will lead to severe damage to the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. However, as mentioned, such cases are rare.
Characteristics that tularemia vaccination has
Today, tularemia vaccine is an extract from pathogenic, but not virulent, that is, those capable of infecting bacteria. The vaccine is stored strictly in a dry and dark place in an ampoule, and right before injection it is diluted in a distillate of water.
Before direct injection, a so-called serology test should be carried out in order to determine the presence of active immunity against this pathogen. This is done by applying a preparation treated with a disinfectant to the skin, which contains tularemin and a small puncture is made with a needle to draw blood from a finger. If hyperemia and slight edema appear at the puncture site, this will indicate that the cells of the immune system interact with the pathogen, starting to overcome it and in this situation, vaccination is not needed.
The very process of vaccination is similar in terms of the methodology. 2 drops of the substance are applied to the inner surface of the upper third of the forearm at a distance of 3 cm, and then a parallel shallow incision is made with a scarifier. It is important not to cut too deep, but only to small droplets of blood. Vaccination can be carried out in a cut with other vaccinations, or at the same time, if you need to be vaccinated against plague or brucellosis.
Active persistent immunity will be formed after a month and will last for the next five years. This should be followed by revaccination.
Possible body reactions
Considering that the tularemia vaccine contains, although not virulent, but still pathogenic microorganisms Francisella tularensis, the body's response to its introduction should be typical for such cases. Often, it manifests itself in this vein:
- Hyperemia, myxedema at the injection site for 3-5 days
- Formation of small papules that turn into crusts over time
- General malaise
- Subfebrile temperature (37.5 - 38 ° C) up to 4 days
- Peripheral lymphadenopathy
Vaccination and its side effects do not pose any danger, on the contrary, this indicates a successful vaccination and the beginning of the formation of cellular immunity of the body. If these reactions are not observed within a week, then revaccination should be carried out after 1 month.
Along with this, at times, much more dangerous effects occur:
- Persistent febrile condition (40 and more ° C)
- Anaphylaxis
- Inflammation of the peripheral lymph nodes
The possibility of side effects is extremely low, however, in order to exclude such reactions, experts recommend being under the strict supervision of the attending physician for an hour or two, who, in the event of the above, will be able to provide emergency assistance as quickly as possible.
It is worth noting that a severe reaction to vaccination is observed with repeated vaccination and in people who have suffered from tularemia. That is why, an absolute contraindication to vaccination against tularemia is the presence of active humoral antibodies, which are formed as a result of repeated ingestion of a foreign agent, in the face of a bacterium, into the body. There are recommendations of the World Health Organization, according to which the vaccination against tularemia for children under the age of seven is not carried out under any circumstances.
Absolute contraindications:
- Pregnancy and / or breastfeeding
- Acute diseases, exacerbation of existing ones
- Asthmatic status
- History of any anticancer therapy
- Oncology
- HIV status
If there is such a possibility, then vaccination is carried out a little later, or it is completely excluded, all this correlates with the type of contraindications and the epidemiological situation in the territory.
Indications for vaccination
Due to the fact that at the moment tularemia outbreaks are predominantly local in nature, it is not included in the list of mandatory vaccinations. However, there are some categories of the population that are more susceptible to contracting it:
- Residents of regions where an outbreak of tularemia has been documented
- Agricultural and livestock workers, employees of grain barns and mills
- People involved in processing the skins of small rodents
- Living in areas with high rodent populations
- Hunting animals
If contact with the pathogen is expected, then the minimum time for which it is worth vaccinating should be at least two to three weeks. This is not always possible, which is why agricultural workers are advised to vaccinate at the beginning of the season.
Conclusion about tularemia vaccination
As a result, it can be argued that the tularemia vaccine is necessary for people who live in an endemic area or for those whose work is related to animals. Vaccination against tularemia for and against is an extremely controversial issue.
Vaccination is carried out by applying a reagent to lightly cut skin where, under normal circumstances, a response from the body should occur. Cellular and humoral immunity formed lasts up to five years.
If, under any circumstances, you have been infected with tularemia, immediately contact your doctor for an accurate diagnosis! An infectious disease doctor, having carried out diagnostic measures, will establish the presence or absence of contraindications to vaccination, explain to you how the drug works and what it is, prescribe treatment and give recommendations on prevention. After that, he will send a notification of an infectious disease to the regional SES for taking measures for deratization and detoxification of the lesion.
Many parents may have never even heard of tularemia. This is due to the fact that it is found far from all over Russia. Meanwhile, in some regions, it is quite possible to become infected with this disease. Therefore, vaccination is becoming a hot topic. When and how can a child be vaccinated against tularemia? Does the vaccine have contraindications? Can it cause complications?
What is tularemia
Human susceptibility to tularemia is almost one hundred percent. This means that if there is a source of infection, the chances of getting sick are extremely high.
Insect vectors can infect not only humans, but also pets that children love to play with.
Insect vectors can also infect pets that children love to play with.
The bacterium (Francisella tularensis) can enter the human body in different ways:
- Direct contact with sick animals, objects on which their discharge is present (as well as when bathing in contaminated water).
- Enteral route (eating a contaminated product - meat without sufficient heat treatment, water).
- Aspiration (inhalation of dust containing bacteria).
- Transmissive (by insect bites).
Infection can enter the human body in different ways, one of them is transmissible (through the bite of an insect carrier)
At the site of introduction of the pathogen (skin, mucous membrane), ulcerative necrotic formation is often formed. The bacterium enters the lymph nodes, where it causes inflammation - characteristic buboes appear. Secondary buboes can occur elsewhere (liver, muscles, spleen). The disease causes intoxication of the body, a high temperature rises.
The pathogen enters the lymph nodes, causing their inflammation - characteristic buboes appear
Because of the formation of buboes on the lymph nodes, people have long compared tularemia with bubonic plague. The disease was called "small plague", as well as "rodent disease", "rabbit fever". By the way, the bacterium Francisella tularensis is very viable: it can exist outside the body (in water) for weeks or months, but it dies when exposed to high temperatures and disinfectant solutions.
This disease in humans is very sensitive to antibiotic therapy (macrolides, fluoroquinolones). However, the difficulty is that the process of complete recovery can take from one to three months. In addition, tularemia is dangerous with complications: pneumonia, damage to the joints of the extremities, acute delirious psychosis (accompanied by delirium). After active treatment with antibiotics, the disease can become chronic and worsen at any time. In rare cases, tularemia is fatal.
Since rodents are the source of the disease, tularemia is not common in our country. People living in certain regions, especially in rural areas, are at risk. There are isolated cases of illness, and there are also epidemic outbreaks. Moreover, most often children get sick, mainly of school age.
Babies in the first two years of life rarely get sick: most likely, this is due to little contact with sources of infection.
How the tularemia vaccine works
Prevention methods help prevent severe infections. It's about vaccination. The tularemia vaccine contains a portion of microbial cells: they enable the immune system to form the correct response to the causative agent of the disease.
The drug for tularemia (and there is only one) is called "Live tularemia vaccine." The ampoule contains a dry substance - a lyophilisate, intended for dissolution in a liquid. In addition to the directly active substance, the composition of the product includes additional components (sucrose, sodium glutamate monohydrate, etc.), which contribute to assimilation.
There is only one drug for vaccination against tularemia - "Live tularemia vaccine"
Vaccination options
There are two ways to administer the vaccine to the human body:
- Subcutaneous. In this case, 0.1 ml of the reconstituted preparation contains (1.0 ± 0.1) x 10 x 7 live cells of the pathogen.
- Cutaneous. Applying small incisions to the skin. In 0.1 ml of the drug there will already be (2.0 ± 0.5) x 10 x 8 microbial cells.
In each case, the method of vaccination is chosen by the attending physician.
Is tularemia vaccine mandatory?
The tularemia vaccine is not included in the routine immunization schedule (such as vaccination against tuberculosis, measles, tetanus, polio, etc.). That is, it is not mandatory, which is understandable: many citizens of the Russian Federation live in natural conditions that do not dispose to the spread of this infection. However, if adults and children live in a region with a dangerous infectious situation, the vaccination against tularemia for children is already being carried out as planned. Most often it is done at school (a health worker distributes forms to students in advance, where parents must express their consent or refusal to vaccinate), and for this purpose, you can contact the clinic.
Most often, children are vaccinated right at school.
Naturally, no one will forcibly vaccinate a child. But if there are periodic outbreaks of infectious foci in the region, doctors will strongly recommend that parents vaccinate.
Children are immunized only from the age of 7. The vaccine provides protection against tularemia for 5 years, after which revaccination is required.
You should be aware that certain categories of the population are especially at risk of contracting tularemia. These are people working in the field of agriculture, animal husbandry, workers in mills, in grain barns, processing the skins of small rodents, hunters. If the father or mother of the child is engaged in such areas, this is an additional reason to vaccinate the baby.
If the child's dad is, for example, a hunter, then the risk of contracting tularemia increases.
Immunity after the introduction of the vaccine is developed after 20-30 days. However, at the time of vaccination, the child must be healthy. Otherwise, the opposite effect may work: the body will be attacked by the bacteria instead of creating a defense against it.
Video: what is tularemia, and how to get vaccinated against this disease
Contraindications to vaccination
Not all children are allowed to be vaccinated against tularemia. Contraindications are the following situations:
- past tularemia;
- allergy to a vaccine component;
- acute infectious disease;
- exacerbation of a chronic disease;
- oncological education;
- blood diseases;
- chronic skin disease;
- reduced immunity;
- diabetes;
- high temperature.
Under certain conditions (for example, acute infectious disease), vaccinations are contraindicated
Some of these contraindications completely rule out vaccine administration (for example, allergies or past tularemia). Others suggest simply postponing the vaccination (acute infection, exacerbation of a chronic illness, etc.). In any case, the child's condition is carefully assessed by the attending physician before the proposed vaccination.
Procedure for the procedure
If the doctor allowed a small patient to be vaccinated, then immediately before vaccination, a serology test must be performed. It determines if the child is immune against tularemia. During the procedure, a small puncture is made on the disinfected skin, a preparation containing the causative agent of the disease is applied to this place. If redness and slight swelling appear in the test area, this means that immune cells are in contact with the microbe and begin to fight it. In this case, vaccination is not needed. Vaccination can only be done with a negative reaction.
The vaccination itself is carried out as follows:
- Cutaneous method. First, a suspension is prepared from the dry vaccine. Then the doctor treats the upper part of the forearm (on the inside) with alcohol and applies a solution to the skin, observing a special technology. After that, the vaccination site should dry out.
- Intradermal method - injection into the outer side of the shoulder.
The vaccination carried out must be registered in the medical institution in the prescribed form: the name of the drug, its manufacturer, batch number, date of vaccination are indicated.
The result of the vaccination is assessed after 5-7 days for cutaneous administration and after 4-5 days for intradermal administration. If the reaction is negative, your doctor will recommend re-vaccination.
Rehabilitation after vaccination
After injection or skin application of the drug, the vaccination site must not be wetted for 24 hours (including treated with antiseptic agents). Also, do not rub the area of the injection or notches with your hands, comb.
The body's response to the vaccine
With the cutaneous method of vaccination, a local reaction develops. Approximately on the 5th day, reddening of the tissue is observed, edema forms. These phenomena should disappear after about two weeks - a crust will appear in the injection area, which, after separation, will leave a small scar.
Also, in the first couple of days after vaccination, the following reactions are typical:
- general malaise;
- a slight increase in lymph nodes, their slight soreness;
- increased body temperature (up to 37.5–38 ° C), sometimes accompanied by chills;
- headache.
These reactions are not a warning sign. On the contrary, they indicate that the body is actively developing immunity against microbes that have entered it.
In the first two days after the vaccination, the child may experience slight malaise, headache, swelling of the lymph nodes, etc. - this is a normal reaction of the body
However, if the child's condition deteriorates rapidly (the temperature rises up to 40 ° C, a strong allergic reaction appears, the lymph nodes are severely inflamed), then you should immediately consult a doctor.
The causative agent of tularemia is widespread in nature. The danger of bacteria entering the human body can come from rodents, insects, when using water from open sources and even food. Both adults and children are infected. Vaccination is considered the most effective measure for preventing tularemia.
What is tularemia
Tularemia (lat. Tularemia) is an acute zoonotic disease included in the list of dangerous infections. Has a natural focus. It is included in the register of highly contagious infections that must be subject to regional monitoring. The susceptibility of people to the bacteria reaches 100%.
Tularemia is characterized by:
- intoxication;
- fever;
- regional;
- inflammation in the area of entry of the infection.
Etiology of the disease
The causative agent of the disease is carried by over 140 species of animals (of which 100 are mammals), 25 species of birds, some species of fish and frogs. But rodents are considered the main source of infection in the wild. The corpses of these animals contain many bacteria that persist for a long time and actively seed the environment around them.
Among domestic animals, bacteria are spread by cows, pigs, sheep and horses. But a person becomes infected most often in nature, in direct or indirect contact with infected rodents. The causative agent of the disease penetrates through injuries of the skin, the oropharynx, the respiratory tract, the organs of vision, the mucous membranes of the tonsils, as well as the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
An infected person is not a source of infection for others. But preventing tularemia is very important. The main measure is vaccination of the population, carried out once every 5 years.
Preventive actions
Disease prevention is divided into 2 types:
- Specific.
- Non-specific.
Destruction of rodents and other methods of non-specific prophylaxis
Non-specific prophylaxis is aimed at monitoring the detection of outbreaks of the disease among domestic animals, natural foci of infection, periodic disinsection and deratization work (destruction of rodents).
When the water in the well is infected, it is first cleaned of animal corpses, and then the well and water are disinfected. Among the population living in disadvantaged areas, specialists carry out health education and explanatory work. Disinfection is carried out in the dwelling of a person sick with tularemia.
Nonspecific prophylaxis of commercial infections includes the use of gloves when skinning animals and disinfection of hands after it is completed. When threshing cereals, stacking hay, protective masks or goggles are used. Preventive measures are carried out in the warehouse.
If there is a threat of transmission (through blood) infection, it is necessary to use a protective suit, limit visits to disadvantaged places and use repellents (deterrent substances).
Specific prophylaxis: when can the vaccine be given
The basis of specific prophylaxis is the vaccination of residents from the age of 7. This applies to people who live in endemic areas for tularemia. A live dry tularemia vaccine (lyophilisate) is used, which is administered once intradermally or subcutaneously.
Before the injection, a skin test is performed for the presence of specific immunity. Vaccination is required only with negative rates.
Instructions for use: where and how the vaccine is administered
- Before the procedure, the vaccine is diluted with water intended for injection, its volume is indicated on the label.
- The mixture is shaken for 3 minutes to obtain a homogeneous suspension.
- The skin in the upper part of the shoulder is disinfected with ethyl alcohol and 2 drops of the drug are applied with a pipette. The distance between drops should be at least 3 cm.
- Then, with a sterile pen, 2 notches with a length of at least 1 cm are made on each drop.
- After that, the vaccine is rubbed in for 20 seconds with the flat side of the pen, it dries after 5 minutes.
With the intradermal method, the place where the suspension is injected is treated with alcohol and injected in a volume of 0.1 ml also into the shoulder area. In this embodiment, the vaccine is additionally diluted with 0.9% sodium chloride solution (ratio 1:19).
Adverse reactions after vaccination
With the cutaneous administration of the drug, it develops a local reaction. On the 5th day, edema and hyperemia appear (overflow of blood vessels). After 2 weeks, local phenomena disappear, a crust will be noticeable in the injection area, after its separation a small scar will remain on the skin. Sometimes an increase in lymph nodes, an increase in body temperature, and the appearance of chills are possible.
Assessment of the strength of the immune system is carried out on the 6th and 13th day. If a negative result is obtained, then a re-vaccination is carried out. The state of immunity is checked 5 years after vaccination, and then - once every 5 years.
Revaccination (repeated) is carried out in order to increase the strength of immunity, its duration with a negative result of the immunological reaction.
Tularemia - video
Precautions: How to Avoid Side Effects
When vaccinating, the following measures are required:
- It is forbidden to inject a product prepared for cutaneous application (scarification) intradermally.
- Ampoules are opened with strict adherence to the rules of antiseptics.
- The finished vaccine cannot be stored for more than 2 hours.
- Vaccination sites should be provided with anti-shock agents.
- The vaccinated person must be supervised by a healthcare professional for 30 minutes.
- The area of vaccine administration must not be brushed or moistened.
Indications and contraindications
The need for vaccination of the population is established by the centers of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision. Not only planned, but also unscheduled vaccination is provided. Revaccination should be carried out only for epidemic indications. The state of immunity of the adult population is determined using serological and allergic methods.
Who is required to be vaccinated?
Must be vaccinated against infection:
- specialists performing preventive work in the contaminated area;
- scientists studying the cells of the pathogen;
- tourists traveling to countries with disadvantaged tularemia;
- personnel working in livestock and fish farms located in contaminated areas.
When you can't get vaccinated: pregnancy complications
Vaccination is undesirable or unacceptable in the following cases:
- blood diseases;
- malignant neoplasms;
- dermatological problems;
- or ARI;
- the presence of immunity to tularemia;
- on the components of the vaccine.
Vaccination is contraindicated in pregnant and breastfeeding women. The disease has an extremely negative effect on the process of carrying a child, so you should take care of your health even during the period of family planning. If an infection is detected, a woman should be treated only by a specialized specialist. He decides on the appointment of specific drugs and the feasibility of further bearing the fetus.
Most of the population has no idea what kind of disease it is - tularemia. What is it like and is it dangerous for people? Therefore, the reluctance to hear about the need to vaccinate against this disease is understandable.
Tularemia vaccination - do people need it today? Perhaps it is easier and easier to recover than to inject some dubious drug into the human body once again? In what cases can one do without dubious protection against an unknown infection, and when is the vaccine needed like air? What else do you need to know about immunization against tularemia? Tularemia vaccination - all pros and cons in this article.
Why is tularemia vaccine needed?
This infection belongs to the category of acute zoonotic, which is transmitted to humans from animals, and is carried by insects. The disease occurs only in certain regions and countries. Russia is on the list of states where you can meet the vector. Ticks, mosquitoes, mosquitoes and horseflies can infect not only humans but also domestic animals. Therefore, tularemia has begun to gain momentum in recent years.
enlarged cervical lymph node
Why is tularemia vaccinated?
- In Russia, over the past decades, the number of cases of diseases has increased from 60 to 500 per year.
- This infection is almost 100% treatable with conventional antibacterial drugs, but the healing process takes up to several months.
- One of the symptoms is swollen lymph nodes, called buboes, which can heal up to 4 months.
- The number of deaths does not exceed 0.5%, but when the pathogen enters the bloodstream, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, psychosis and even inflammation of many joints can develop.
So should you be vaccinated against tularemia? It is included in the vaccination calendar for epidemic indications, that is, it is optional for everyone, but it is necessary for a certain category of people who are at risk of tularemia. Treating the disease for several months, trying to get rid of complications that will bother a person for a long time, and healing aesthetically unpleasant buboes is a troublesome and not always effective business. The disease sometimes becomes chronic and recurs periodically during a sharp decrease in immunity.
Vaccination against tularemia is needed, but not everyone without exception, since the likelihood of meeting an infection in people from different regions varies.
Indications for vaccination
The only indication is the planned and emergency prevention of tularemia in the foci of infection. Vaccination is carried out for a certain contingent of people who may encounter an infection in nature or by occupation. Although every resident of Russia is not immune from such a meeting. Outbreaks of infection were recorded in the Central, Northern and West Siberian regions of the country. Here, the epidemic situation is closely monitored and regularly predicts the incidence of the next year. Therefore, tularemia vaccination is mandatory here.
Who is vaccinated? People in need of vaccination are identified in the sanitary and epidemiological surveillance. It can be:
- people working in tularemia cell culture laboratories;
- everyone who participates in the disinfection of the territory with outbreaks of tularemia;
- vaccinations are given to people living in infected areas;
- all workers of farms and farms located in the territory unfavorable for the disease;
- indications for vaccination against tularemia - rest in countries with a high incidence;
- urgently vaccinate workers who arrived in areas where an outbreak of infection was recorded: builders, agricultural workers, geologists, loggers and others.
Vaccine administration rules
When is tularemia vaccinated? Protection against infection is introduced in two cases:
- for emergency prevention of the disease;
- in a planned manner to people living in the contaminated area.
Emergency vaccinations are given in the event of an outbreak of infection, as well as people who are preparing to visit areas unfavorable for this infectious disease.
The vaccination schedule against tularemia is simple - the vaccination is done once. Revaccination is not carried out. After 5-7 days and after 2 weeks, it is imperative to control the production of immunity against infection. An intradermal test with tularin or a blood test for the presence of antibodies to the bacteria is performed. If the result is negative, the vaccine is repeated.
Where are they vaccinated against tularemia? The drug is administered intradermally or cutaneously on the anterior surface of the middle third of the shoulder. The injection technique differs depending on the method.
- The skin on the shoulder is treated, after drying with a pipette, one drop of the diluted solution is applied in two places, the distance between them is approximately 3-4 cm. Then, at the site of application of the drug, 2 thin parallel incisions or notches are made.
- For intradermal administration, the drug is preliminarily diluted and injected with a syringe in a dose of 0.1 ml into the outer surface of the middle third of the shoulder.
Children are vaccinated against tularemia starting at the age of 7. In field-type foci, it is recommended to administer the vaccine from the age of 14.
Contraindications for vaccination
Contraindications to tularemia vaccination are as follows:
Vaccination reaction
In most cases, the vaccine is well tolerated, but sometimes the following reactions to tularemia vaccine are possible.
After the injection, it is recommended not to treat the skin with antiseptic agents. To reduce the likelihood of complications for the vaccine, you can not swim for a day. Try not to visit active, crowded places. Can the tularemia vaccine be wetted? No, in the case of the vaccine against this infection, it is better not to wet the place of the notches.
What vaccines are there for tularemia?
The choice of drugs is small. More precisely, there is only one drug for infection - the "Live tularemia vaccine" is used.
The ampoule contains dry matter. Before use, it is diluted with water for injection and shaken thoroughly for three minutes until the substance is completely dissolved. Several doses are obtained. Always check for immunity to the disease before using the vaccine.
A correctly administered tularemia vaccine provides immunity for an average of 5 years.
So, do you need a vaccine against a practically harmless disease? Vaccination is necessary for all people who may come into contact with vectors of the infection, or living in infected areas. Field and domestic mice, farm animals, hares and water rats - many encounter these vectors every day, which means that almost everyone is likely to get sick. Protecting yourself and your family with one vaccination is much easier than constantly fighting the vectors of the pathogen.
Loading ...