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Infectious episodes following diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccination. A preliminary observation in infants
1Department of Pediatrics, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Insights
Infants experienced more fever, diarrhea, and cough following diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunization. This study highlights potential increases in infectious episodes post-vaccination in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunization is a critical component of infant healthcare.
- Understanding post-vaccination infectious episodes is essential for infant health monitoring.
- Previous studies have focused on immediate reactions, but longer-term infectious trends require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate the incidence of infectious episodes in infants during the month following DPT immunization.
- To compare the occurrence of fever, diarrhea, and cough in the month post-vaccination versus the month pre-vaccination.
- To determine if age at vaccination correlates with the incidence of these infectious episodes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 82 infants aged 2-12 months.
- Infectious episodes (fever, diarrhea, cough) were recorded for the month prior to and the month following DPT vaccination (excluding the first 3 days post-vaccination).
- A regional increase in morbidity prompted a reevaluation of cases from the latter 3 months, using the same methodology.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher rates of fever (6.1% vs. 24.4%, p<0.001) and diarrhea (7.3% vs. 23.1%, p<0.005) were observed in the month following DPT immunization compared to the prior month.
- While cough rates increased (37.7% vs. 52.4%), this was not statistically significant in the initial analysis.
- Reevaluation during a period of increased regional morbidity confirmed significant increases in fever (5.3% vs. 25%, p<0.005), diarrhea (10.5% vs. 28%, p<0.02), and cough (26% vs. 54%, p<0.01) post-vaccination.
Conclusions:
- Infants may experience an increased incidence of infectious episodes, including fever and diarrhea, in the month following DPT immunization.
- The observed trend persisted even when accounting for regional increases in morbidity.
- No correlation was found between the age of vaccination and the occurrence of these post-immunization infectious episodes.
Abstract:
Eighty two infants, aged 2-12 months, were prospectively studied for infectious episodes following diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunization. The occurrence of infectious episodes during the month following vaccination was compared to that during the month prior to its administration. The 3 days following vaccination were not included. In comparison to the month prior to immunization, during the month following there were significantly more infants with fever (6.1% vs. 24.4%, p less than 0.001), with diarrhea (7.3% vs. 23.1%, p less than 0.005), and with cough (37.7% vs. 52.4% p N.S.). After the first month of the study, there was an increase in morbidity in the region, so we reevaluated those cases who had been seen during the latter 3 months. The same trend was found: in the month following immunization there were significantly more infants with fever (5.3% vs. 25%, p less than 0.005), with diarrhea (10.5% vs. 28%, p less than 0.02), and with cough (26% vs. 54%, p less than 0.01). There was no correlation between the incidence of these episodes and the age at vaccination. In addition to reactive fever during the first 3 days following DPT immunization, an increase in infectious episodes seems to occur in infants during the month following administration of this vaccine.