Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Measles is a dangerous, rapidly spreading, highly contagious viral disease that can lead to severe complications and death. The causative agent of measles (eng. Measles virus) is an RNA-containing virus of the Paramyxoviruses family.

The measles virus is usually transmitted through direct contact, as well as through the air, infects the mucous membrane of a person, and then spreads throughout the body. The first sign of measles is usually a significant fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and watery eyes, and small white spots on the inside of the cheeks. After a few days, a rash appears, first on the face and upper neck. After about three days, the rash spreads all over the body, including the arms and legs, lasts for 5 to 6 days, and then disappears.

Most measles deaths are due to complications associated with the disease. Complications are more common in children under the age of five or in adults over 30 years old.

Introduced in 1963, measures to vaccinate against measles have significantly reduced mortality from this disease.

Screening of pregnant women, young people and patients at risk to determine the level of protective immunity is extremely important during periods of epidemic outbreaks. For this purpose, the most common quantitative determination of IgG antibodies specific to the measles virus is by enzyme immunoassay.

Measles is a dangerous, rapidly spreading, highly contagious viral disease that can lead to severe complications and death. The causative agent of measles (eng. Measles virus) is an RNA-containing virus of the Paramyxoviruses family.

The measles virus is usually transmitted through direct contact, as well as through the air, infects the mucous membrane of a person, and then spreads throughout the body. The first sign of measles is usually a significant fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and watery eyes, and small white spots on the inside of the cheeks. After a few days, a rash appears, first on the face and upper neck. After about three days, the rash spreads all over the body, including the arms and legs, lasts for 5 to 6 days, and then disappears.

Most measles deaths are due to complications associated with the disease. Complications are more common in children under the age of five or in adults over 30 years old.

Introduced in 1963, measures to vaccinate against measles have significantly reduced mortality from this disease.

Screening of pregnant women, young people and patients at risk to determine the level of protective immunity is extremely important during periods of epidemic outbreaks. For this purpose, the most common quantitative determination of IgG antibodies specific to the measles virus is by enzyme immunoassay.

Measles is a dangerous, rapidly spreading, highly contagious viral disease that can lead to severe complications and death. The causative agent of measles (eng. Measles virus) is an RNA-containing virus of the Paramyxoviruses family.

The measles virus is usually transmitted through direct contact, as well as through the air, infects the mucous membrane of a person, and then spreads throughout the body. The first sign of measles is usually a significant fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and watery eyes, and small white spots on the inside of the cheeks. After a few days, a rash appears, first on the face and upper neck. After about three days, the rash spreads all over the body, including the arms and legs, lasts for 5 to 6 days, and then disappears.

Most measles deaths are due to complications associated with the disease. Complications are more common in children under the age of five or in adults over 30 years old.

Introduced in 1963, measures to vaccinate against measles have significantly reduced mortality from this disease.

Screening of pregnant women, young people and patients at risk to determine the level of protective immunity is extremely important during periods of epidemic outbreaks. For this purpose, the most common quantitative determination of IgG antibodies specific to the measles virus is by enzyme immunoassay.

Diphtheria is an infectious disease that primarily affects children. The causative agent of diphtheria Corynebacterium diphtheriae enters the human body, primarily infecting the throat and upper respiratory tract, and produces a toxin that can affect other organs. The disease is characterized by an acute onset, with the main symptoms being a sore throat, fever, and swollen glands in the neck. In severe cases, the bacteria produce a toxin that causes a thick gray or white film to form on the back of the throat.

The most important virulent factor of C. diphtheriae is the diphtheria toxin (exotoxin), which is secreted by the bacteria, enters the bloodstream, and damages the myocardium, kidneys, and central nervous system. Damage to the heart muscle can lead to arrhythmias, and nerve inflammation can cause paralysis.

Vaccination against diphtheria is a highly effective means of preventing the disease. According to WHO recommendations, all children worldwide should be vaccinated against diphtheria. The primary vaccination with diphtheria toxoid, consisting of three doses of the vaccine, should be administered to infants at the ages of 2, 4, and 6 months (with at least 4-week intervals between vaccinations). This should be followed by three booster immunizations with combined vaccines at the ages of 1-2, 4-7, and 9-15 years. At any age, those who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated against diphtheria should receive the necessary doses to complete the vaccination series.

After the 3-dose primary series of the toxoid-containing vaccine, 94-100% of children show diphtheria antitoxin levels > 0.01 IU/ml, but booster doses of the vaccine are necessary to ensure long-term protection. Quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of IgG antibodies to diphtheria toxoid is widely used to assess the level of protective immunity.

Whooping cough is a dangerous respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Characteristic symptoms of the disease include paroxysmal spasmodic coughing, a high-pitched "whoop" sound when inhaling, post-cough vomiting, and more. Whooping cough is most severe in infants and young children, often leading to apnea (breathing pauses) and, in some cases, death.

Whooping cough is a globally widespread disease with a cyclic pattern, with peaks in incidence every 3-5 years. Due to the severity of its clinical manifestations, many countries have implemented vaccination programs against whooping cough. As a result of widespread vaccination campaigns conducted in the 1950s and 1960s in developed countries, there was a sharp decrease in both incidence (by more than 90%) and mortality from whooping cough.

However, despite high vaccination coverage, whooping cough remains a public health issue worldwide, with approximately 140,000 cases reported annually.

In Ukraine, according to the National Immunization Schedule, children should be vaccinated against whooping cough at the ages of 2, 4, 6, and 18 months. For vaccinating children against whooping cough during the first year of life, both acellular (aP) and whole-cell (wP) pertussis vaccines can be used. The immunity formed as a result of the full course of vaccination against whooping cough lasts for 5-7 years.

Laboratory methods are used to diagnose whooping cough, with the most common being polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (to detect the pathogen during the first 2-3 weeks of the illness) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (to detect specific antibodies). The presence of IgM antibodies specific to Bordetella pertussis indicates an acute infection or recent vaccination. The detection of IgG antibodies to the pertussis toxin (PT) in the serum of an unvaccinated individual allows for the diagnosis of a past or current infection and provides information about specific immunity after vaccination.

• Solid phase: breakable microplate ELISA is coated with Bordetella pertussis antigens.
• Conjugate: a monoclonal antibodies to human IgM conjugated to horseradish peroxidase.
• Chromogen: ready to use TMB solution.
• Volume of sample for analysis: 10 μl.
• Assay time: 1h 15 min.

Whooping cough is a dangerous respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Characteristic symptoms of the disease include paroxysmal spasmodic coughing, a high-pitched "whoop" sound when inhaling, post-cough vomiting, and more. Whooping cough is most severe in infants and young children, often leading to apnea (breathing pauses) and, in some cases, death.

Whooping cough is a globally widespread disease with a cyclic pattern, with peaks in incidence every 3-5 years. Due to the severity of its clinical manifestations, many countries have implemented vaccination programs against whooping cough. As a result of widespread vaccination campaigns conducted in the 1950s and 1960s in developed countries, there was a sharp decrease in both incidence (by more than 90%) and mortality from whooping cough.

However, despite high vaccination coverage, whooping cough remains a public health issue worldwide, with approximately 140,000 cases reported annually.

In Ukraine, according to the National Immunization Schedule, children should be vaccinated against whooping cough at the ages of 2, 4, 6, and 18 months. For vaccinating children against whooping cough during the first year of life, both acellular (aP) and whole-cell (wP) pertussis vaccines can be used. The immunity formed as a result of the full course of vaccination against whooping cough lasts for 5-7 years.

Laboratory methods are used to diagnose whooping cough, with the most common being polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (to detect the pathogen during the first 2-3 weeks of the illness) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (to detect specific antibodies). The presence of IgM antibodies specific to Bordetella pertussis indicates an acute infection or recent vaccination. The detection of IgG antibodies to the pertussis toxin (PT) in the serum of an unvaccinated individual allows for the diagnosis of a past or current infection and provides information about specific immunity after vaccination.