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Birth

BCG
Oral Polio Vaccine – 1st dose
Hepatitis B Vaccine – 1st dose

6 Weeks

DPT – 1st dose
Oral Polio Vaccine – 2nd dose
Hepatitis B Vaccine – 2nd dose

10 Weeks

DPT – 2nd dose
Oral Polio Vaccine – 3rd dose

14 Weeks

DPT – 3rd dose
Oral Polio Vaccine – 4th dose

6 – 9 Months

Oral Polio Vaccine – 5th dose
Hepatitis B Vaccine – 3rd dose

9 Months

Measles Vaccine

15 – 18 Months

MMR (Measles,Mumps,Rubella)
DPT – 1st booster dose
Oral Polio Vaccine – 6th dose

5 Years

DPT – 2nd booster dose
Oral Polio Vaccine – 7th dose

10 Years

TT(Tetanus) – 3rd booster dose
Hepatitis B Vaccine booster dose

15 – 16 Years

TT(Tetanus) – 4th booster dose

OPTIONAL VACCINES *

Typhoid Vaccine
Haemophilus influenzae type b

* Typhoid and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines are optional as recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Consult your Doctor.

Parents to Note
The suggested schedule may be modified by your Doctor as per the need.Immunisation can be given in the presence of a minor illness.After the immunisation, reactions are usually mild.Prior to immunisation, inform your Doctor if the child has had any significant reactions to the last dose.

BCG

A nodule appears 3-4 weeks after BCG vaccination. It may soften or ulcerate in 2- 4 weeks. No application or fomentation is necessary. It heals, leaving a scar, indicating effective vaccination.

DPT

There may be mild fever and pain, redness and swelling at the site of the injection. A small painless lump may remain for a few weeks. For fever and pain, paracetamol syrup / tablet may be given. The dose can be repeated every 4-6 hours if required. Please consult your Doctor for any other reaction.

Measles / MMR

A few children get fever 4 to 10 days after the vaccination. Paracetamol syrup / tablet may be given if required.

Data Courtesy : Dr M Dhanaraj, MD, Head – Dept of Neurology, Govt Stanley Hospital, Chennai, India

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is characterized by fever and an itchy and blistered rash. It is a highly contagious disease. Although chickenpox related complications are relatively rare among healthy children, varicella disease could be more dangerous in infants and older age groups.

In most cases, chicken pox in childhood is not a life threatening condition. However, it can cause considerable suffering and discomfort to the patient and inconvenience to the parent. Children who suffer can miss valuable time at school, especially during exams, and parents can loose working time, spent in looking after their sick children. Medical costs are also involved. Moreover, if an adolescent or adult becomes infected, the problems pertaining to lost working time and medical costs could be even greater.

What is chickenpox?

It is a viral disease caused by first exposure to the varicella-zoster virus. It presents as a fever and itchy-blistered rash and is highly contagious. The virus then remains latent in the body and can be later reactivated and cause Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

What is the difference between chickenpox and herpes zoster?

Chickenpox infection is known mostly to affect children with a rash that is less painful and more diffused. Herpes zoster is the reactivation of the VZV, affecting older people, as the efficiency of the immune system declines with age, and tends to be more painful and sometimes serious, particularly if it occurs on the face.

How does chickenpox spread?

The virus spreads from person to person by airborne droplets while sneezing or coughing. It can also spread by direct contact with the chickenpox or herpes lesions.

Can the infection be prevented?

The likelihood that chickenpox will spread among children in schools or among family members is over 90%. Isolating infected children by keeping them away from school will help, but only vaccination will help reduce the spread of chickenpox.

When is chicken pox most contagious?

Transmission is most likely within the first two days before the appearance of the rash. Chickenpox is contagious for up to five days of the rash but not after day 6 and generally, children can go back to school after this time.

Is chickenpox only a childhood disease?

Many people contract chickenpox during childhood or adolescence, but adults who have escaped the infection earlier will at some time or the other get infected. Chickenpox infection then can be severe and lead to complications.

What are the symptoms of chickenpox?

The most obvious is the blistered and highly itchy rash, which can last for up to 10 days. Most children have 200-300 lesions, which form a crust after 4-5 days and remain for 1 – 2 weeks. Fever is probably the most common clinical sign along with chills, nausea and vomiting.

Does chickenpox cause complications in children?

Although for many children chickenpox does not produce major health problems, complications can develop in some cases, especially pneumonia, which may be fatal . In infants less than a year old, 8 in every 1,00,000 patients die.

Bacterial superinfection of the skin is generally seen in healthy children under 5 years of age and can sometimes lead to unsightly scarring, which may cause cosmetic concerns later in life.

What happens if an adolescent or adult contracts chickenpox?

Chickenpox is more serious in adolescents and adults than in children. The fever is higher and continues for much longer and the rash is much heavier. The most important point is the much greater likelihood of complications : pneumonia, for example can occur in 14% of adult patients. Mortality also tends to be higher when varicella is contracted later in life.

Does chickenpox have a social impact?

Very much so - the full impact of childhood chickenpox on patients and on their families is often not appreciated. Physically, varicella is very uncomfortable for patients because they have to endure discomfort from symptoms such as the characteristic rash and the associated itching, fever, chills, nausea and vomiting. Patients often need to be isolated while suffering from chickenpox and in many cases they suffer from permanent scarring as a result of bacterial super infection of the skin. Moreover, in immunocompromised individuals, the symptoms are more severe and complications may be fatal.

Is there any economic impact on patients and their families?

Yes. Chickenpox can cause financial problems for working parents who will have to stay at home to look after their children or because older patients need to stay away from work. Medical costs may also be high especially if complications set in and the sufferer - whether child, adolescent or adult - needs hospitalization.

Who are at risk of infection with chickenpox?

Anyone who does not have a reliable history of having had chickenpox infection is at risk. Immunocompromised children or adults and pregnant women who have escaped the infection earlier, are at high risk. Chickenpox can sometimes cause problems during pregnancy and harm to the fetus.

Now, the good news is, thanks to modern science your children don’t have to suffer with chickenpox in the first place.

Chickenpox is now preventable through vaccination. Consult your doctor.

Data courtesy : catalog issued in public interest by SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals

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