Vaccination against scarlet fever – a myth or reality

Preparing for vaccination

The reason for the development of beta – hemolytic Streptococcus group A. It is spherical micro-organisms in the product are arranged in the form chains.

These bacteria are well preserved in dried biological material (saliva, sputum), can be easily destroyed by boiling and disinfectants.

This type included 110 strains of pathogens that differ from each other antigenic properties.

Epidemiology

Source – patient streptococcal infection or asymptomatic carrier. The aerosol mechanism of transmission is realized by airborne droplets and airborne dust ways. Receptive category – persons not carrying a scarlet fever previously. Often affects children from two to ten years.

The disease is widespread, often can be found in countries with temperate climate. Less people get sick with scarlet fever in the summer. In the rest of the year, the incidence is about the same.

In newborns the infection is very rare, as they are protected by the antibodies derived from mother's milk.

A little bit about immunity in scarlet fever

Pathogenic properties of the microorganism possesses due aritmogennogo produced the toxin and its cell wall. Immune cells shape the response to both pathogenic beginning. When the disease is ended, it formed a persistent lifelong immunity.

The toxin, which is synthesized by bacteria, have any strain. It causes a characteristic rash scarlet fever, so a person immune to it is not sick with scarlet fever.

Cell wall unique to each strain (110). Formed immunity will not protect from another type of bacteria, but when the person gets infected again, the infection will proceed, as angina.

Since the disease responds well to treatment, and the immunity does not protect against other strains, vaccination against scarlet fever ineffective.

The term "vaccine" comes from the Latin vacca – cow, as the first vaccination by Edward Jenner made from the contents of bubbles of cow smallpox.

Picture of the disease

The infection is characterized by:

  • Pronounced intoxication syndrome with febrile body temperature, chills, headache, muscle, nausea, and vomiting.
  • Petechial rash on the background of erythematous skin, spread throughout the body, especially in the folds. Exception – nasolabial triangle stands out on the reddened face.
  • Tonsillitis with characteristic purulent tubes and raids on the tonsils, complaining of pain when swallowing.
  • After subsiding of the rash occurs skin.

Severity of symptoms can distinguish mild, moderate and severe. The latest threat to the transition in toxic shock and sepsis. These complications make scarlet fever a dangerous infection that requires careful attention.

Wash with scarlet fever should be carefully, carefully adjust the water temperature, as sensitive skin can easily burn.

Diagnostics

The basis for diagnosis is a typical clinical picture. The etiology can be confirmed by the culture results of the smear from the oropharynx of the child to the culture medium, as well as an increase in antibody titer in re research.

Treatment

Therapy light and medium forms in children carried out at home. Hospitalityat in severe forms of or inability to isolate sick child from others.

On symptoms directed detoxification therapy (drinking plenty of fluids) and gargling with antiseptics. The bacteria exposed to the antibiotic penicillin. Children examined by a pediatrician and prescribe a drug and dosages based on weight and health.

In the early twentieth century for the treatment of post-streptococcal nephritis was recommended to bathe the sick in the hot tub, and then wrap.

Prevention

Before the advent of antibiotics in 25% of cases of scarlet fever ended in death, so scientists have searched for ways to create a vaccination against scarlet fever. The first success came in 1895, when A. Marmorek made protiwastmaticescoe serum. However, its effectiveness was low, so widespread vaccination against scarlet fever is not received.

The serum of Moser (1905) had more success, as they reduced child mortality from scarlet fever, but it went into retirement because of the need to introduce large doses (at least 200 ml) and the absence of standard solution concentrations.

Spouse dick who studied streptococci and their role in the development of infection, noted that subcutaneous injection of patient serum of a recovering causes blanching of the rash in this area. Animals that were injected with antitoxic serum, has become immune to infection or transferredthe disease in a mild form. Through their research antitoxic immunization against scarlet fever in 1924 became a reality.

Active immunization was carried out by the vaccine gabrichevskogo (1905). After confirming the streptococcal origin of the disease in 1924, scientists around the world took up the development of vaccines against scarlet fever. Drugs, which are made to destroy bacteria and their toxins, was established in Russia (immunisation Kite-Shirinoy, Zlatogorsky), Italy (Di Cristina-Caronia), Japan (Takahashi).

In 1928, at the XI Congress of the bacteriologist, epidemiologists and sanitary physicians of the USSR, a decision was made to vaccinate children from 6 months to 14 years, developed a table of dosages and timing. The vaccine was provided a two-year immunity, but sometimes caused severe reactions with fever and rash. Not recommended to bathe the baby, as this increases the risk of complications.

Discovered by Alexander Fleming penicillin antibiotics worked against streptococci, caused fewer side effects, so now a vaccination against scarlet fever do not.

Carry out measures of nonspecific prevention. Sick child isolated from the team, the rest of the children examined by a pediatrician. At the first sign of the disease they begin to heal. In the room where the reported outbreaks, conduct disinfection.

In the room where the patient with scarlet fever, you must daily clean up. Care before contact with other kids needed to bathe, change clothes.