How to prevent TB Early

Thursday, January 6, 2011

The effectiveness of prophylactic tuberculosis vaccine does not reach 100%, but why mandatory for infants?

Tuberculosis or TB has now grown into a global infectious disease and the number one killer in the world. No fewer than 8 million people are infected each year, 2 million of whom died. The number of patients with TB (tuberculosis) in Indonesia, occupies the third position in the world after India and China. It's very sad.
That is the reason why prevention as early as possible should be done. You do this by injecting the vaccine BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) at the age of the baby. The vaccine, invented by Dr. Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin called investigators on this 24 April 1927, containing the TB germs are still alive but has been weakened.

However, as the case of human endeavor, there is no perfect prevention. Similarly, the BCG vaccine that does not have 100% effectiveness for preventing TB disease. Therefore, this vaccine is only an act to reduce the risk of contracting.

So still, a child who has received BCG vaccine can still be infected. For example, if the child's immune system is on the decline and ongoing continuous contacts with TB patients. Automatic child always gets a spray germ Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the main agent causing TB disease. Or, it could be a germ that is transmitted is very violent and very much so it affects the child's defense fortress.

The fact is, of course, provoke the question, if so to what BCG vaccination? Nevertheless, there remains the possibility of contracting TB. Wait, whoa, vaccination is clearly useful! Even if the children receiving the BCG vaccine contracted the TB bacteria, the condition is not as severe in patients without BCG vaccine.

Clearly, BCG remains useful to minimize the possibility of contracting as well as ease the symptoms when infected with TB.

Another important thing to prevent transmission of TB is to avoid the child has direct contact with adult TB patients. TB-causing germs easily spread by droplets (beads of water droplets in air) is carried out when the patient coughs, breathing or sneezing.

Consultant expert:

Dr. Budi Darmawan Setyanto, SpA (K),




BCG VACCINE WHAT TIME?

* Number of Granting

Just 1 time, because the BCG vaccine contains live bacteria so that the antibodies produced will have the same quality with naturally infected. Therefore, the antibodies generated by vaccination are high. Different from the vaccine which contains the germs die, generally require booster or repetition.

* Age Giving

Age groups are vulnerable to TB are under five, especially less than 1 year of age. This is because children generally have a close relationship with adult TB patient, as with mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, and other people that same house. Therefore, BCG vaccine has been given to children from less than 1 year old, the age of 2 months. At this age children are the body's immune system is mature enough to get the BCG vaccine. However, if there are family members who live in the same house or relatives who frequently visit the house suffering from TB, so it's good BCG immunized infants immediately after birth.

When the baby has gone from age 2 months, prior to vaccination should live first Mantoux test (tuberculin). Useful to know, whether the child's body was possessed by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis or not. BCG vaccination is carried out if the Mantoux test is negative.

* Location of injection

Recommended by WHO are in the right upper arm. How to inject also requires special skills because the vaccine must be signed into the skin. When done in the thigh, inject the process more difficult because the layer of fat under the skin is generally thicker thighs. The parents also do not have to worry about scarring that will occur in the arm, because scarring is generally not large. So will not ruin the aesthetic beauty of your child's arm later.

* Provide Vaccine When Healthy Kids

No need to hesitate to do the vaccination if the child simply coughs colds. Vaccination should be postponed if the child is suffering from high fever or severe illness (eg to need treatment in hospital). It would be nice if the first consultation to a more expert before vaccination.

* Signs Successful Vaccination

Sign of the success of BCG vaccination in the form of small blisters and ulcers in the injections used to appear after 4-6 weeks. Lump or abscess after BCG vaccination has a characteristic that is very unique and different from ulcers in general. Blain does not cause pain, even to the touch did not feel sick. Not only that, the appearance of ulcers was also not accompanied by heat. Furthermore, boils it will deflate and form a scar.


* If there Reaction of Excess

Increase vigilance if it appears excessive reaction pascavaksinasi BCG. For example, lump or ulcer that does not heal old and became a scab. Or, instead there is swelling of the glands in the armpit (sekelan). This can be a sign of the child were infected with tuberculosis, giving rise to excessive reactions after vaccinated. You should be examined back to the doctor.

Important note, any infection is always followed by the enlargement of local lymph nodes (regional) so that is palpable. So mild infection due to vaccination in the upper arm will cause the enlargement of the lymph nodes of the armpit. If infection occurs in the groin, lymph node enlargement will occur in the folds of the thighs. However, these side effects do not occur in all infants. Is at risk if the baby is already infected with TB prior to vaccination.

* If Not Occur Bumps

Parents need not worry if it does not appear ulcer / lumps in the injection area. Do not immediately assume that vaccination failed. It could have happened because antibody levels are too low, the dose is too low, the resistance of children is declining (eg, children with poor nutrition) or less good quality vaccine storage due to the wrong way.

However, antibodies are formed but the levels remain low. Do not worry, in endemic areas of TB (TB disease continue to exist throughout the year), such as Indonesia, natural infection will always exist. His booster (repeat vaccination) can be obtained from the wild, provided that the child had been vaccinated previously.

Consultant expert:

Prof. DR. Dr. Sri Rezeki S Hadinegoro, Sp.A (K),