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Introduction to Helthybaccha.com
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VACCINES - 2.
Meet the Pediatrician - in a
conversational mood - PERIODIC UPDATES :
Vaccines
 Vaccination
(Immunization) has been perhaps one of the greatest revolutions
in the history of evolution of medicine.
If we go back centuries, we owe the whole discovery (invention -
rather) of
vaccination to Edward Jenner who experimented with cow pox and could
achieve
a vaccine that prevented millions of deaths and sickness that
'plagued'
humanity with small pox. While our generation may be getting to see
some
people of the older generation carrying the scars of pox on their
faces, we
are blind to the thought that countless lost their eye sight to this
illness.
History, ( if you may ask me personally, was the subject I loathed the
most in school ) but it is medical school that taught us how
experimentation that seems so easy in modern times , was extremely
difficult in the olden times and it is researchers we salute till
date. I do hope I am not boring you.
Now we shift our focus to the present day.
There are several issues that come to parents' minds (as well to
ours):
The list of vaccines is growing by the day - where shall it stop.
After all how many calls shall I make to my Pediatrician :
Frankly, a very difficult question to answer and it shall still
certain grey areas where you shall have to take charge and decide for
yourself.
It is interesting to contrast the philosophy of Homeopathy with that
of Allopathy. Generally speaking, Homeopaths have a rather strong
objection to the whole issue of vaccination. Their contention is that
through the process of vaccination we are tampering with nature's
design of ' survival of the
fittest '.
Through vaccination we are artificially creating a whole generation of
possible susceptibles and are fostering a ' weak brood' . Now, on a
macro level, it is perfectly fair and reasonable - I do not know how
we shall allow this in our small families and allow the ' inherently
weak to perish'
Yes , we as allopaths agree that we are allowing a whole generation of
susceptibles.Moreover, with increasing focus on hygiene ( boiled and
double boiled water , no play in the " dirty sand / mud " , aquaguard
galore , mineral water ...) we are anyway making our own and our
childrens' immune
system susceptible.
Vaccination thus holds a fair prospect.
I know we have touched a rather controversial point.
Our lifestyle shall , like it not , keep getting more sterile by the
day and we are attracting the risks of increased susceptibility to
infections - hence , like it or not, most of you shall eventually to
take almost all the vaccines that have been traditionally used and the
newer ones that are
coming in.
Vaccines for Chickenpox ( Varicella ) and Hepatitis - A ( Jaundice
Type A ) are suggested by our Pediatrician - how do we decide about
them ?
These are ' lifestyle " vaccines.
The reasons are twofold. One is the cost , they are rather expensive
and are not affordable by all. Two is that they prevent against two
very common and usually harmless diseases of childhood - chickenpox
and the common Jaundice
Let us pick up Jaundice - ( Jaundice i.e. Hepatitis is caused by 5
viruses which science has discovered till date , we do not , at the
moment know how many more viruses are lurking around. The viruses are
known as A,B,C,D,E. We have a vaccine for B - which is now mandatory.
We have no vaccine for C,D and
E. )
The common Jaundice is shared somewhat equally by A and E and both
follow the oral contamination route. Usually the Jaundice lasts some
1-2 weeks and then fades away with some medication and some supportive
measures.
There is , thus a case in favor of avoiding this vaccine.
Now two things come in the way. One is that in some cases it can get
complicated and that can get serious business - even life
threatening.T wo is the misery faced by the child and the family for
some 2-3 weeks through the child not eating at all , having vomiting
off and on and prolonged nursing required at the parents' part.
For these two negatives , you may accept the vaccine. It is especially
useful for people ( including adults) who happen to travel a lot. Food
hygiene can not always be trustable in this situation.
Once again , it is a costly vaccine( costing something like a thousand
rupees ) and the final decision shall be left to you.
CHICKENPOX is a very common ailment and we all are familiar with it.
The basic fundamental behind Chickenpox ( Varicella ) is that the
impact on the child is lesser the younger he is. As age increases, the
severity of the illness gets geometrically greater and in older
children, adolescents and adults, it can be horrendous. Given this
background , there are two
approaches you may adopt. The vaccine is recommended after the age of
1year.You may wait till some 6-7 years of your child's age and if he
does not develop natural chickenpox - then you MUST take it. Or else
you may take is around the recommended age of 1 year. The cost of the
vaccine is some 1500rupees.
There is just a small rider attached. Naturally acquired chickenpox
does not protect against future development of Herpes. The chickenpox
virus lies dormant in the body and at any stage of life , especially
when the body resistance is low for any associated reason, the virus
MAY rise from its
sleep and cause Herpes. Herpes is painful and a terrible thing to
have. Butthen who knows whether an individual will ever have Herpes !
I know I have left you in the lurch - there is nothing categorical
that Ihave recommended. All the same, I have tried to put these two
vaccines intheir proper scientific perspective and you may use your
own judgement beyond this.This write up may help clear some clouds.
Vaccine Safety :
This shall touch two issues :
1. The safety / risk to the child
2. The safety measures to be adopted by the vaccinator ( your
Pediatrician)
All the vaccines are tested and thoroughly scrutinized before they
arrive in the vaccination schedule. Hence we work on the basic
presumption that whatever vaccine we may be taking is a safe vaccine.
Side effects are a different story altogether. For example, DPT
usually (almost always ) causes fever, crankiness and the whole family
gets disturbeddue to the fever and the crankiness of the child. Sorry,
there is nosolution. The P of DPT( P stands for Pertussis , also known
as Whooping
Cough ) and this is the villain of the DPT combination. The Western
World isusing acellular Pertussis - this eliminates the nastiness of P
. We are looking forward to arrival of the acellular vaccine in India.
That shall change the whole scenario. Till then ....sorry.
Aside from this , all the other vaccines are pretty smooth and the
discomfort of the prick is the only bad taste the child carries back
from his Pediatrician's Clinic. There may be an odd case who may react
to any of these injections but that is extremely rare.
What you can do, at your level is :
1. Wait a while after the vaccination - do not rush home
immediately
2. Make sure you are visiting a Pediatrician for vaccination
and not some other Physician or Vaccinator.In the event of some
reaction the Pediatrician would be your best friend.
Coming to the safety measures to be adopted by your Pediatrician.All
of us understand the extreme importance of strict cold chain
maintenance , proper site for pricking and can handle any rare
untoward event that may happen.
I feel we may close here - you may look forward to the next update
bulletin soon - it shall cover the left over topics in Vaccination.
With warm regards
Dr Jindal and team healthybaccha.com
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