The prevalence of pneumococcal infections has been markedly reduced due to development of antibiotics, but pneumococcus is still one of the important pathogen in systemic or focal infections due to its antigenic diversity and multiple drug resistance. Thus we must consider that this infection will be controlled by vaccination.
We performed the study to fine out the efficacy and safety of a 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccaride vaccine among severe asthmatic children those who might be risk in recurrent lower respiratory infections. 25 severe asthmatic children who received long term steroid therapy were in volved in this study. Antibody levels just before vaccination and at 1 month after vaccination to the six serotypes (6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F) were measured by using ELISA. Also systemic and local side effects were observed for three days after vaccination. The results were as following :
1) The comparison of geometric mean titers before and after vaccination revealed almostly above 2 fold increase in all studied pneumococcal serotypes.
2) Especially, remarkable antibody response to subtype 9V (52% four fold increase) and 18C(52% four fold increase) were observed.
3) Transient fever(4), chilling(1), fatigability(1) and myalgia(1) were developed and relieved with in 1 day after vaccination.
4) Local pain(6), redness(3) and heatness(1) were visible and disappeared within 2 days after vaccination.
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