Skip to main content

Why is the oral vaccine for polio not given to children suffering from diarrhea?

There are two possible reasons for why the oral polio vaccine ("polio drops") might not be given to children or infants with diarrhea. The first reason would be that this vaccine, like any other, triggers a minor immune response. The purpose of a vaccine is to train the body to recognize and fight off specific infections by introducing a weak or dead form of the virus. After a vaccine, it is common to experience minor...

There are two possible reasons for why the oral polio vaccine ("polio drops") might not be given to children or infants with diarrhea. The first reason would be that this vaccine, like any other, triggers a minor immune response. The purpose of a vaccine is to train the body to recognize and fight off specific infections by introducing a weak or dead form of the virus. After a vaccine, it is common to experience minor symptoms associated with that illness. For example, someone who has received the flu vaccine may feel a little feverish, fatigued, or achey for a day or so. Similar symptoms may arise after a vaccination for polio, but in the case where a child is already ill and experiencing an immune response, introducing the polio virus to the body could potentially be dangerous. Infants and children may not have the immune fortitude to fight off multiple infections at once, and the combined immune response could trigger dangerously high fevers or dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting.


A second reason, which has been tracked in this study of infants in Brazil, is that the polio vaccine is less effective in those suffering from diarrhea. When someone is suffering from gastrointestinal distress, digestion and absorption of nutrients are affected. Similarly, an oral vaccine given when a child has diarrhea may not be properly processed by the body. The World Health Organization recommends that the oral vaccine either be delayed until a child has recovered from their digestive troubles, or that they are vaccinated once while experiencing diarrhea and again after returning to good health.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more