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[Adverse events following immunization: AEFI in 17 children between 0 and 2 years of age]
F Taraszkiewicz1, W Bogus-Parafieniuk, E Ołdak
1Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych Dzieci Akademii Medycznej w Białymstoku.
Insights
Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) are rare but can occur with vaccines like DTP and BCG. Improving vaccination techniques and storage may reduce these events.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Public Health
Context:
- Preventive vaccination is crucial for child health.
- Understanding Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) is vital for vaccine safety monitoring.
- The study examines AEFI in children aged 0-2 years who received routine vaccinations.
Purpose:
- To report the incidence and types of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) in young children.
- To analyze the specific vaccines associated with reported AEFI.
- To identify potential areas for improvement in vaccination practices.
Summary:
- In 1993, 17 out of 1440 children (0-2 years) experienced AEFI after BCG, DTP, measles, or polio vaccination.
- Reactions occurred in 0.9% (14 children) and complications in 0.2% (3 children).
- DTP vaccination was associated with the most adverse reactions (0.8%).
Impact:
- While most AEFI were mild and resolved without complications, severe events like convulsions and intraventricular hemorrhage were noted after DTP.
- The study highlights that no vaccine is entirely without risk.
- Recommendations include improving vaccination techniques, distribution, and storage to minimize AEFI.
Abstract:
Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) are disadvantageous side effects of preventive vaccination. In 1993 we found 17 cases of AEFI out of 1440 children between 0 and 2 years of age who had received BCG, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, measles or poliomyelitis vaccine. They were classified as reactions in 14 children (0.9%) or complications in 3 children (0.2%). Twelve adverse reactions followed DTP vaccination (0.8%), two followed BCG vaccination (0.14%), another two measles vaccination (0.14%) and one followed poliomyelitis vaccination (0.07%). Both generalized and local symptoms were present and they regressed with no further complications. Two children who had received BCG were noted to have a deeply placed abscess at the injection site remaining scar as well as axillary, submandibular and cervical lymph nodes enlargement within 6 months. In a 3 months old child, after the first injection of DTP vaccine, convulsions and consciousness disorder occurred. Transfontanel ultrasonography revealed intraventricular haemorrhage. After one year of intensive neurological care child's health state was improved. In spite of using still more and more safe vaccines none of them is the ideal one--the one with no adverse events following vaccination. Vaccination technics, distribution and storage of vaccines are to be improved which may result in decrease number of AEFI.