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| SWINE FLU (H1N1 VIRUS INFECTION) |
Swine flu is a contagious respiratory disease that normally only affects pigs. It is commonly caused by H1N1 strains of influenza A virus but other strains also circulate in pigs. Normally human gets infected after close contact with infected pigs. But a new strain of swine flu has emerged in March/April 2009 in Mexico which can spread swine flu from person to person. It is feared that new strain may cause a human pandemic. The symptoms are usually similar to normal seasonal influenza but some people infected with swine virus have severe illness and even death may occur. The incidence of mortality is high in pregnant women, young children, elderly persons and individual suffering from chronic medical ailments as chronic lung disease, liver disease, heart disease and immuno suppression.
Recently a vaccine has been launched ,which is being used in various countries. At present no vaccine has been marketed in India. There is lot of debate about the utility of anti swine flu vaccine. Only one dose of 1.0ml is given subcutaneously |
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| TDP/Tdap |
A combination of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and whole pertussis vaccine was used in past in place of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccines being used individually and separately. With the development of acellular pertussis vaccine, now a days combinations of tetanus toxoid diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine is in use.
Adults who have not previously been immunized should receive a dose of Tdap followed by a dose Td 4 weeks later and a booster dose with Td 6-12 months after the second dose.
Adults aged 19-64 years should receive a single dose Tdap in place of Td if they have received their last dose of Td 10 years earlier and have not received Tdap earlier. Parents and healthcare providers of less than 65 years, who are likely to come in contact with infants less than 12 months of age, should be given a single dose of Tdap even at an interval of 2 years from the previous dose of Td vaccination.
Whenever possible, women should be given vaccine Tdap before becoming pregnant or immediately during post-partum if not vaccinated earlier. |
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