Immunization 101: Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine
After
the El Niño-intensified summer heat we experienced, the rainy season with its
lower average temperature is a much welcome change. But the frequent rain comes
with the possibility of many areas to become breeding grounds for mosquitoes
and mosquitoes are well-known carriers of various diseases. One of these
diseases is Japanese Encephalitis
which our little Queen was recently vaccinated against.
Japanese
Encephalitis is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. 30,000 to
50,000 clinical cases are reported annually. It is a viral disease that causes
inflammation of the membranes around the brain. Majority of infections are mild
or asymptomatic (no symptoms) but approximately
1 in 200 develop into encephalitis. Symptoms of severe infection includes rapid
onset of high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, convulsions,
seizures, and spastic paralysis (loss or
impairment of a motor function). Mental retardation also usually occurs.
The case fatality rate can be as high as 60% among those who develop
encephalitis.
Domestic
pigs and wild birds (especially herons
and egrets) are reservoirs of the Japanese Encephalitis virus. Pigs infect
the mosquitoes that take blood meals. Mosquitoes from the Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Culex vishnui groups are the most common transmitters of the
Japanese Encephalitis virus. These mosquitoes breed predominantly in flooded
rice fields.
Even
though we don’t live near rice fields or piggeries and Japanese Encephalitis is
still not as common as dengue, another mosquito-borne disease, J and I decided
to have our little Queen B vaccinated against it when our pediatrician
suggested it to us. It is a good thing we did because it is actually now part
of the recommended vaccines for children by the Philippine Pediatric Society and Philippine Foundation for Vaccination. The steady rise of cases of
Japanese Encephalitis in the Philippines put it in the list.
The Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine is
injected subcutaneously. The primary dose can be given at a minimum age of 9
months followed by a booster shot 12-24 months after the primary dose. The Department of Health is reported to be
thinking of including Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine in its Expanded Program of Immunization.
I
don’t know if the fever that our little Queen B experienced was due to the
vaccine as, sadly, she was having a bad case of coughs at the same time as her
vaccine shot. Also, the fever developed the day after the vaccine injection. Gladly,
a couple of intakes of paracetamol were enough to bring down the fever which
did not rise above 38°C. The cough, though, lasted for almost 2 weeks. Her
pediatrician already prescribed some antibiotic when a week had passed without improvement.
Thank God, our little Queen B is now fully healed and as active as ever!
Our
problem now is how to alleviate Georgina’s fear during visits to the doctor.
For the last two visits, she immediately cries when we start laying her down
and doesn’t want her pediatrician to even touch her. Her memory is indeed
increasing and it is unfortunate that majority of our visits to the doctor
means an injection. I hope to find a solution that will work on her soon. If
you have any tips, feel free to share at the comment section below.
#xoxo
Sources:
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