Herpes zoster, commonly known as skin snakes, is excruciatingly painful when it strikes. At present, adults can be prevented by vaccinating once morest herpes zoster. However, children also have preventive measures! Pediatricians said that herpes zoster is a virus that hides in the nerve ganglia following the onset of the chickenpox virus. The second dose of chickenpox vaccine, 4 to 6 years old plus one dose, has a preventive effect.
The best way to prevent shingles is not to get chickenpox
Pediatrician Chen Jinglun said that the troublesome thing regarding shingles is that in addition to the pain at the time of the attack, eye shingles may also cause blindness, and some people may still have neuralgia sequelae even if they recover. Method, in addition to the shingles vaccine over the age of 50, the best way is not to get chickenpox! Because chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus, the first time you get chickenpox, the virus will remain dormant in the body for life following recovery. When the immune system declines, the virus will come out along the nerves and cause shingles.
Varicella vaccine protection declines over time, U.S. recommends replacement
Chen Jinglun emphasized that chickenpox can be transmitted through air droplets or skin-to-skin contact. Although Chinese children have been vaccinated once morest chickenpox at the age of 1, studies have found that the protective power of the vaccine will decline over time, and there are still 3 per 100 children. Chickenpox occurs following the first dose of vaccine, and the infection rate in the same family is as high as 90%. Infants and young children infected with chickenpox may cause encephalitis and septicemia. Pregnant women infected with chickenpox may cause fetal malformations, and adults infected with chickenpox are prone to pneumonia.
If you can get a second dose of chickenpox vaccine at 4 to 6 years old, you can reduce the chance of chickenpox breakthrough infection and future shingles. The new edition of the American Academy of Pediatrics Handbook of Children’s Health has recommended a second dose of the chickenpox vaccine.
Vaccination within 5 days of exposure to chickenpox
Chen Jinglun also suggested that if you are unfortunate enough to come into contact with a confirmed case of chickenpox and have no antibodies, you can get the chickenpox vaccine within 72 hours, and within 5 days at the latest, it can still provide 70% protection, which can reduce the severity of the attack. At present, there is also a subsidized blood test for chickenpox antibodies in the pre-pregnancy health check following marriage, which can be used more.
When do I need the chickenpox vaccine?
1. Routine 1st dose of chickenpox vaccine for baby over 1 year old (public fee)
2. The second dose of chickenpox vaccine at the age of 4 to 6 can reduce the chance of breakthrough infection and reduce the chance of shingles in the future (own expense)
3. Those who do not have chickenpox antibodies and are unfortunately in contact with chickenpox patients can be injected with chickenpox vaccine within 72 hours following exposure, and vaccination within 5 days at the latest can still provide 70% protection to reduce the severity of the disease (own expense)
4. Pre-pregnancy health check following marriage. Married people who have not yet given birth will have a subsidy to test for varicella antibodies. If they lack immunity, 2 doses of varicella vaccine should be vaccinated more than 1 month before pregnancy, which can protect mother and baby (at their own expense)
◎ Image source/Provided by Dazhi Image/shutterstock.Taken fromStinky Dad’s Parenting Diary
◎ Source / Dr. Chen Jinglun
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