Ticks vaccination Children: Do babies and toddlers also need a vaccine against the disease TBE? We explain what you should know about it.
What Parents Should Know: What is FSME?
The virus-induced disease TBE (“tick- borne encephalitis”) can cause inflammation of the brain, meninges or spinal cord. Usually it is transmitted (like Lyme disease) by a tick bite – therefore the correct tick protection is very important.
In addition to avoiding the sting (for example by coconut oil against ticksor black cumin oil against ticks ) protects in the actual sting a tick vaccination against TBE. But can a tick vaccine also protect children from transmission – and is vaccination necessary at all?
TBE in children: symptoms and course
In general, TBE is usually slightly easier in children than in adolescents or adults. In about a quarter of the affected children, the disease can also take a difficult course – in about two to three out of 100 cases, long-term damage to the brain or to the nerves. For comparison: In adolescents and adults, the risk of a serious illness is 30 to 40 percent. The following symptoms occur due to the disease in children:
- fever
- a headache
- dizziness
- Vomit
Most of the complaints last a few days and then form back without consequences. In a severe disease course with meningitis, there is a second peak disease: The fever rises again, in addition to the already existing symptoms often comes a stiff neck. TBE itself is not treatable – only the complaints can be reduced.
TBE vaccine needed for children?
The Standing Vaccination Commission (“STIKO”) recommends a general vaccination coverage for all persons who are in risk areas for FSME – whether in the form of a holiday or because they live there. Especially those who spend a lot of time outdoors, such as foresters and gardeners, but also hikers should carry out the TBE vaccination – as well as children, as they often play outside.
For babies, the vaccine is not approved, but children over one year can be vaccinated against the disease. Up to 15 percent of children under the age of three experience fever as a result of side effects after vaccination – parents should therefore check the individual’s risk of infection with the doctor in advance.
When is a vaccination against FSME useful?
As ticks are already active in April, it makes sense to start vaccination as early as the winter months. One to three months after the first vaccination is followed by a second dose, a third is scheduled after five to twelve months. After the first immunization, the protection should be refreshed after three years, then every five years.
TBE vaccination: risk areas with ticks
FSME is not represented in all states – especially in the northern part of Germany only isolated cases are known. The disease often occurs in the following federal states:
- Badem-Württemberg
- Bavaria
- Southern Hesse
- Southern Saxony
- Southeastern Thuringia