Weight fluctuations after immunization in a rural preschool child community

Abstract

After inoculations with diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT), smallpox Bacillus Calmette-Guèrin (BCG), polio, and DPT + polio vaccine preparations, weight-for-age fluctuations were monitored in over 470 rural preschool children and compared to those in nonvaccinated control children matched for age, weight-for-age, season and year of immunization, and village affiliation. It was found that children immunized with live agents (BCG, smallpox, polio, DPT + polio) who also were below 6 months of age suffered statistically significant reductions in their weight-for-age compared to matched nonimmunized controls. Children inoculated with polio or smallpox who also were below 80% of the Harvard weight-for-age median experienced a larger decrease in their nutritional levels than those above, with correction for age distribution. It is suggested that in the developing world immunizations with live agents to children below 6 months of age should be given only if the infectious illness in which immunization is provided poses a real threat to health, or if vaccination coverage of children above 6 months of age would subsequently be difficult to achieve.

Stimulation of protein synthesis and breakdown by vaccination.

“…3 Vaccination can cause fever and loss of body nitrogen,5 and results in a temporary impairment of growth in children. 6 We have therefore measured whole-body protein turnover in normal adult volunteers who were given a vaccination against typhoidcholera. Rates of protein turnover were determined by giving a single dose of "5N-glycine and measuring the subsequent excretion of 15N in urinary ammonia.…”

Use of Licensed Vaccines for Active Immunization of the Immunocompromised Host

“…The weight loss was attributed to increased catabolism from vaccine-induced infection and was not observed with killed or toxoid vaccines such as diphtheriapertussis-tetanus (148). These observations raise the concern that live-agent vaccination in malnourished children could result in a clinically significant deterioration of the nutritional state (148).…”

“…The effect appeared to be the result of increased catabolism or tissue destruction associated with a subclinical infection by the attenuated yellow fever virus (93). In 1977, Kielmann demonstrated statistically significant reductions in weight in children younger than 6 months old who were given live-pathogen vaccines (BCG, smallpox, and polio) relative to matched nonimmunized controls (148). The weight loss was attributed to increased catabolism from vaccine-induced infection and was not observed with killed or toxoid vaccines such as diphtheriapertussis-tetanus (148).…”

“…In 1977, Kielmann demonstrated statistically significant reductions in weight in children younger than 6 months old who were given live-pathogen vaccines (BCG, smallpox, and polio) relative to matched nonimmunized controls (148). The weight loss was attributed to increased catabolism from vaccine-induced infection and was not observed with killed or toxoid vaccines such as diphtheriapertussis-tetanus (148). These observations raise the concern that live-agent vaccination in malnourished children could result in a clinically significant deterioration of the nutritional state (148).…”

Body Weight and Immunity - A Reciprocal Relationship?

“…There is also the possibility that immunizations may have an adverse effect on nutritional n tat us.^ One of the authors of the present report tried to study this aspect of the relationship between nutrition and immunity. 9 Following immunization against small pox, polio and DPT, weight fluctuations were monitored weekly for 30 days and in the case of BCG, fortnightly for 90 days. The children were all free from acute or chronic infectious diseases at the time of immunization.…”