Vaccination is one of the most effective means of strengthening babies’ immunity and reducing the incidence of infectious diseases. However, for a long time, there is still a great controversy as to whether children with precardiac disease should be vaccinated and which conditions can be vaccinated.
For simple precardiac disease (atrial defect, ventricular defect, and patent ductus arteriosus), if there are no symptoms; the condition is relatively stable or is improving; and there are no other contraindications to vaccination, such as allergy to vaccine components and immune dysfunction, vaccination can be considered in accordance with the immunization program on the basis of fully informed consent.
Severe or complicated precardiac disease (cyanotic type), or combined pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, respiratory distress, or undergoing treatment (including medication) are contraindications to vaccination and cannot be vaccinated; wait until they are cured before vaccination.
Precautions for vaccination of children with precocious heart
In addition to the regular physical examination, children with precocious heart disease should undergo a strict cardiac specialist examination, including electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and cardiac ultrasound, before vaccination, and only with the consent of a cardiologist.
1. Vaccination time
After 3 months after precordial surgery, if the heart function is good after re-examination, vaccination should be done according to the normal procedure. Pre-operative vaccination should be done according to medical advice and close observation should be paid attention to.
2.Body condition
Choose to vaccinate when your baby is in good health and does not have a cold, cough, fever, rash, diarrhea, etc. If you have a cold, it is recommended to wait for a week after healing before vaccination.
3.Growth and development
The baby’s growth and development are normal, with height and weight in the normal range, not lower than the local standard for normal children of the same age.
4.About vaccination
① Vaccine selection
Vaccines are divided into live attenuated vaccines and inactivated vaccines. Premature heart babies are weak, so try to receive inactivated vaccines with little side effects and advocate vaccination with combination vaccines.
The advantage of combined vaccines is that the number of vaccinations is less, the side effects are less, and the preventive effect is the same. For example, only 4 doses of the pentavalent vaccine are required, while a total of 12 doses are required for a single vaccination. The disadvantage is that it is more expensive. The observation time at the clinic after vaccination should also be longer, such as one hour. The next vaccination will be determined according to the reaction after vaccination.
② Not vaccinating at the same time
If two vaccinations are given at the same time, it is recommended that only one vaccination be given at a time. Simultaneous vaccination may increase the probability of adverse reactions (there have been cases of infants who died after receiving both vaccines at the same time).
③ Interval time
Each vaccine has a certain interval. Live attenuated vaccines generally cannot be given within 27 days of other vaccines, while inactivated vaccines are within 6 days. The interval between booster vaccine and basic vaccination of the same vaccine should be as required.
5. Complex and serious precocious heart disease
For severe precardiac disease, care should be taken even after post-operative vaccination. There was a child with law 4 who had radical surgery at the age of more than 1 year, and a generalized allergic rash occurred at the age of 3 when vaccination was given. This suggests that cardiac insufficiency should be vaccinated with caution.
6.Special children
Children with special physique, such as premature low weight children, should be vaccinated individually, i.e. specifically consult a doctor before vaccination.
7.Influenza and pneumonia vaccines
Influenza and pneumonia vaccines have a wide range of indications. Children with precocious heart disease can be vaccinated if their current condition is well controlled and there are no other contraindications. Note: Children who have flu, fever or pneumonia cannot be vaccinated, but can be vaccinated after they are cured.
In addition, children with prediabetes need to pay attention to the following points in their usual care.
1, correct feeding
Correct and scientific feeding is the basis to ensure the normal growth and development of the child. It is not necessary to overly restrict the child’s diet. It is recommended to give a diet high in protein and rich in fiber, including sea fish, ribs and green vegetables. For children over 5 months of age, consider adding normal complementary foods, including egg yolk, minced meat porridge, vegetable porridge and thin noodles.
Some parents often want to add special diets to their children. For example, the rumor that “eat what makes up for what” will make some parents feed their children some special foods such as pig heart, however, feeding pig heart, will not play a “eat what makes up for what” role, and may aggravate the burden on the child’s gastrointestinal tract.
2, avoid respiratory infections
Most precordial diseases can make the child’s respiratory tract susceptible to infection. How to prevent respiratory infections is the concern of parents. Parents are advised to do the following.
① Keep your home well ventilated. Lack of air circulation in the home often leads to the accumulation of bacteria and viruses, which can easily infect children;
②Increase water intake to increase your child’s metabolic rate;
③ Avoid going to crowded and noisy public places, these places will expose children to an environment full of various pathogens, and the probability of infection rises.
3.Appropriate activities and physical exercise
For children with preexisting heart disease, they should avoid participating in competitive sports, including ball games, wrestling, sparring and taekwondo, before surgery. There is no need to worry about the child’s usual activities such as running and jumping, chasing and playing among children and playing games. Unless the child is out of breath, blue lips and cold hands and feet, you should stop the activity and send the child to the hospital. When swimming there should be parents or coaches close to accompany, it is best not to swim alone in deep water.