PESHAWAR: Doctors have called for vaccination to ensure safety of children against typhoid as rise in temperatures and subsequent vulnerability of water sources to contamination increase the risk of food and water-borne infections.
‘Pakistan has faced an additional challenge in recent years with the emergence of Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) typhoid, a form of the disease that is resistant to many commonly used antibiotics. This makes prevention more important than treatment of disease,’ Prof Ihsanullah, the head of microbiology department at Khyber Medical University, told Dawn.
According to him, every summer, hospitals across the province witness spike in typhoid fever, which affects children and adults. Caused bybacteria Salmonella, it spreads through contaminated food and drinking water and can cause high grade fever, weakness, stomach pain, headache and digestive problems.
In severe cases, patients may require hospitalisation and prolonged treatment. He said that one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent typhoid fever was vaccination.
‘Recognising its importance, Pakistan became the first country in the world to introduce Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV)intoitsroutine childhood immunisation programme.
Thousands of children have since been protected through this initiative,’ Dr Ihsan, who is also director of research at Khyber Medical University Hospital, told Dawn.
According to him, the vaccine, available free of cost at the centres of expanded programme on immunisation for children and privately for adults, is administered as a single injection that ensures longlasting protection against typhoid fever. Children are the primary target group of typhoid and vaccination can also benefit adults living in high-risk areas or during out-breaks.
‘Unfortunately, some parents show reluctance to get vaccinated their children owing to misconceptions or concerns regarding its side effects, which are understandable, especially when it comes to the health of a child,’ he said.
However, decades of scientific research and real world experience had shown that typhoid vaccine was safe and highly effective and most recipients experienced no side effects at all, while some may developed mild fever or soreness at the injection site that resolved within a day or two, he elaborated.
Dr Ihsan said that due to summer season and the possibility of outbreaks, vaccination should be viewed as an act of protection, not only for children but for entire families.
‘Every vaccinated child helps to reduce the spread of infection within schools, neighbourhoods and communities, he opined.
He said that typhoid fever was largely preventable.
‘Along with safe drinking water, proper sanitation, hand washing and food hygiene, vaccination remains one of ourstrongest defences against this disease,’ he explained.
This summer, parents should take a moment to check their children’s vaccination record and ensure they are protected because a simple vaccine today can prevent serious illness tomorrow and help to build a healthiernationfor everyone.
Meanwhile, physicians and paediatricians say that they have been receiving more cases of typhoid after Eidul Azha and have called for vaccination to prevent outbreaks.
‘Number of cases of resistanttyphoidfeverhasrisen and its treatment is very expensive and requires hospitalisation most of the time,’ said Prof Khalid Mahmood, a senior physician.
Other physicians said that vaccination, approved by World Health Organisation, was necessary to prevent XDR typhoid fever, which was resistant to all recommended antibiotics for typhoid including third-generation.
They said that the disease was common in poor countries where it had become a major public health problem due to the emergence of resistance to many antibiotics.