DTP AND DTP‐INACTIVATED POLIO VACCINES: COMPARISON OF ADVERSE REACTIONS AND IgG, IgM and IgA ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO DTP

Abstract

Adverse reactions and anti-DTP [diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis] antibody [Ab] responses were compared between DTP- or DTP-inactivated polio-vaccinated children. The material consisted of 380 children whose adverse reactions were registered by detailed questionnaires given to the parents. Ig[immunoglobulin]G-, IgM- and IgA-anti-DTP Ab of 42 children were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fever, restlessness and local reactions were the most frequent adverse reactions observed. DTP-polio vaccine induced significantly more restlessness than DTP. This was the only significant difference in adverse reactions between the vaccines. An enhancement of IgG-anti-DTP Ab responses at the age of 6 mo. was observed in the DTP-polio group. The enhancement was transient in antitoxin responses but still present in pertussis Ab at 8 mo. of age. Very low and mostly undetectable levels of IgM- and IgA-anti-DTP Ab were observed in both groups.