440 Section 13/ Miscellaneousthird dose can be given two months after
the first dose and a fourth booster dose at
12 months.
HEPATITIS A (AVAXIM)
Hepatitis A is one of the most
widespread infectious diseases worldwide.
It is caused by the hepatitis A virus and is
common in places with poor standards of
hygiene and sanitation. The virus attacks
the liver and causes varying degrees of
illness in patients.
The hepatitis A virus is excreted in the
faeces. Direct contact with an infected
person’s faeces or indirect contamination of
food, water, hands and cooking utensils may
result in the virus being ingested, causing
infection.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting,
jaundice (yellowness of eyes, skin and
urine), diarrhoea, pale stools, abdominal
pain, malaise, fatigue, fever, chills, lack of
appetite, sore throat, etc.
Hepatitis A is often confused with
hepatitis B. What is important to remember
is that hepatitis A is the single largest cause
of jaundice. Also vaccination against hepatitis
B does not protect from hepatitis A.
A vaccine is now available and is the
most practical means of protection against
hepatitis A. A complete course of vaccine
should be taken to get long term protection.
Hepatitis A vaccination is indicated for
active immunisation against hepatitis A virus
(HAV) infection in subjects at risk of exposure
to HAV such as travellers to high prevalence
areas, armed force personnel travelling to
high endemic areas, person in whom
hepatitis A is an occupational hazard or in
whom there is an increased risk of
transmission (persons working in a day care
centre, nursing, medical and paramedical
personnel especially gastroenterology and
paediatric unit, sewage workers,
homosexuals, haemophilia patients, abusers
of injectable drug and persons with multiple
sexual partners.
Adverse effects include injection site
soreness, redness and swelling; mild
headache, malaise, fatigue, fever, nausea
and loss of appetite.Dosage:- Adults (19 years onwards): A single
dose of hepatitis A adults vaccine (1
ml suspension containing not less than
1,440 ELISA units of viral antigen) is
used for primary immunization. - Children and adolescents (from 1 year
up to 18 years of age): A single dose
of hepatitis A junior vaccine (0.5 ml
suspension containing not less than
720 ELISA units of viral antigen) is
used for primary immunization.
In both a booster dose is recommended
any time between 6 to 12 months later to
ensure long time protection from hepatitis A.
Administration: By IM route only, in
deltoid muscle.
TYPHOID (TYPHIVAX)
Typhoid fever is a disease which starts
as an infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
It is caused by the bacterium Salmonella
typhi. It spreads by ingestion of
contaminated food or drink. Normally
Salmonella typhi bacterium is inactivated by