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[Convulsions after whooping-cough vaccination]
Insights
Infants experiencing seizures after pertussis vaccination, including epilepsy and Lennox syndrome, suggest a causal link. Improvements in pertussis vaccines and informed parental consent are urgently needed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Context:
- Reports on 11 infants experiencing convulsions or status epilepticus post-pertussis vaccination.
- Documents persistent epilepsy and infantile epileptic encephalopathy (Lennox syndrome) in affected children.
Purpose:
- To investigate the incidence and causal relationship between pertussis vaccination and infant seizures.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of current pertussis vaccines.
Summary:
- Observed incidence of seizures approximates 1:4800 infants or 1:12,800 vaccinations, with a US study suggesting a higher rate of 1:600 infants.
- A significant difference in seizure incidence compared to the age group's spontaneous fits confirms a likely causal relationship between vaccination and seizures.
Impact:
- Highlights the need for improved pertussis vaccines, especially for infants.
- Recommends enhanced parental information on vaccination risks and reconsideration of booster inoculations.
- Suggests health authorities should re-evaluate current pertussis vaccination programs and establish national complication registries.
Abstract:
Convulsions or status epilepticus in 11 infants after pertussis vaccination are reported. In 3 cases grand mal epilepsy persisted and 2 children developed infantile epileptic encephalopathy (Lennox syndrome). On the basis of our own experience, the incidence of seizures approximates 1:4800 infants vaccinated or 1:12 800 vaccinations. According to a recent prospective study from the USA, the incidence of seizures may be closer to 1:600 infants. Since there is a significant difference between the incidence of spontaneous fits in children of the same age group and the incidence after vaccination, a causal relationship between the seizures and vaccination appears to be confirmed. The following conclusions are drawn from these observations: 1. In view of the usually benign course of whooping cough today, current vaccination against pertussis is hardly satisfactory. Improvement of the available vaccines is an urgent necessity. The protection should include the population most at risk, i.e. infants during the first few months of life. 2. Parents should be better informed about the risks involved in pertussis vaccination. 3. Booster inoculations should be abandoned. 4. Health authorities should decide whether the current pertussis vaccination program should be continued. 5. Complications following vaccination should be registered at a national centre.