Immunization Schedule And Meningitis

   
 

Immunization Schedule And Meningitis

Immunization is important to protect your baby from those diseases that can be fatal for him. It is important to follow the immunization schedule accurately. If you miss an immunization date then consult your doctor immediately and he will give you a new date. If the baby is very ill when immunization is due then you consult your doctor and reschedule immunization. But if your baby has a slight cold or cough then you can go ahead with immunization. If your baby has had an acute reaction to a dose of immunization consult your doctor before you gives him the booster dose.

After an immunization shot the baby is likely to have slight fever, give him the recommended dose of paracetamol and that should help him. If the injection sight is swollen do not worry, as this is normal. Consult your doctor about the reactions that various injections will have on your baby. If your baby has any of the following conditions then he is ill:

  • Is not feeding normally for over 24 hours.
  • Vomiting continuously.
  • If is suddenly beings to breathe noisily and rapidly.
  • Has wet only 4 nappies or less in the past 24 hours.
  • Presence of blood in stools or urine.
  • Cries continuously and it sounds different from the normal way he cries.
  • Lacks energy and is not alert.
  • Has a skin rash.

Consult your doctor if you are concerned about the way the baby is behaving.

IDEAL IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE FOR THE INFANTS
(Recommended by the Ministry of Health, Searchvt. of INDIA )

At 11/2 months
B.C.G. (injection)*
D.P.T. – 1 (injection) and
O.P.V. – 1 (dose)
At 21/2 months
D.P.T. – 2 (injection) and
O.P.V. – 2 (dose)
At 31/2 months
D.P.T. – 3 (injection) and
O.P.V. – 3 (dose)
At 9 months
Measles (injection)
16 to 24 months
D.P.T. Booster (injection) and
O.P.V. Booster (dose)
* If the infant has been delivered in a hospital/clinic, she should be given the B.C.G. injection at birth.
* Even if you are late for an injection/dose, you must still get it. Consult your health worker regarding this.

Another illness that is a cause of great concern among parents is meningitis. When this affects infants and small children, it can be fatal if not treated promptly. Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation can be caused either by bacteria or viruses. Meningitis caused by bacterial infection is more fatal than the one caused by viral infection. Meningitis is contagious as it is airborne. It spreads when an infected person sneezes, coughs, laughs or talks and tiny droplets of fluid from his throat and nose become air borne. Infants are more susceptible to meningitis as their immune system is still developing. The number of cases of meningitis among infants has dropped greatly every since the Hib vaccine was introduced. A Hib vaccine safeguards the child against the attack of meningitis. But vaccines have not been developed for all the strains of meningitis. Hence parents continue to be worried about meningitis. Some symptoms of meningitis are:

  • Stiffness in the neck.
  • Swollen fontanel – swelling of the soft spot on the baby’s head.
  • The baby is listless and is not his usual energetic self.
  • The baby looks very pale.
  • The baby is not alert.
  • The baby has a purple rash.
  • The baby cries in a high-pitched voice and seems to me moaning.
  • The baby has very high temperature.
  • The baby has suddenly become sensitive to light.

Though meningitis seems like a deadly disease, it can be cured, if diagnosed at the right time and treated promptly.


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