Why you can’t wet the mantle: how much you can’t wet the vaccine. The effect of water on manta Is it possible to wet manta for 3 days

Tuberculosis is a very dangerous infectious disease that currently common. The disease requires a very long medication and weakens the body.

In this article, we will talk about the Mantoux reaction, that is, a test that allows you to determine the presence of a tubercle bacillus in the human body. The reliability of this diagnosis is very important, so you need to know exactly whether it is possible to wet Mantoux, and also remove all the nuances that may affect the result.

For this diagnostic sample pure tuberculin is used- extract from safe, destroyed tuberculosis bacteria. These microbacteria cannot harm human health, but they are identical with the causative agent of tuberculosis. The immune system reacts to the sample in such a way as if a tubercle bacillus, the causative agent of the disease, enters the body.

A special insulin syringe is used to inject the drug under the skin on the inside of the forearm. This entails manifestations of allergies, which can develop within three days. Three days later, the doctor evaluates the size and intensity of redness at the injection site.

What is alarming when assessing the reaction to the antigen after three days? If there is no reaction at all at the injection site, there is no swelling of the skin or the diameter of the redness is less than 0.5 centimeters, then this indicates that the body does not have immunity from the tubercle bacillus. In most cases, this reaction occurs in children who were not given the BCG vaccine at birth.

Abnormal is the size of the swelling of more than five millimeters and the presence of an abscess at the injection site. You should be aware that even if the test result is positive, this does not mean that the child has tuberculosis. In this case, you must definitely visit a specialist - a phthisiatrician, who will prescribe additional examinations.

The advantages of such a test with an injection of tuberculin are:

ease of procedure
fast result,
rather high information content of the result, subject to all the rules and recommendations of the doctor,

A significant disadvantage of this test is that it is extremely sensitive to various factors that can significantly distort the result. That is why many parents are wondering if it is allowed to wet Mantoux and how to avoid the wrong result.

Water and Mantoux: why can the result be distorted?

Tuberculin, as mentioned earlier, is injected directly under the skin, in turn, water comes into contact only with the top layer of the skin, so it would seem that the interaction of the drug and water is unlikely, but it is quite possible, under the influence of a number of factors. Do not overheat the child, is in a room with high humidity.

It is forbidden to visit the bath, pool and sauna, because under the influence of moist warm air the pores on the skin will open and moisture will get inside the skin. You should carefully monitor the baby so that he does not scratch the injection site, and also does not try to crush the swelling. All this can lead to the ingress of moisture into the inner layers of the skin through the open pores or damaged layer of skin. In such a situation, a false positive result is quite possible.

Factors that can influence the result of a tuberculin test

Some external factors can irritate, damage and infect the skin. This is for example:

mechanical damage to the skin. You should also not seal the injection site with a plaster or bandage, as the injection site will additionally be affected by sweat accumulated under the bandage and sebum. Do not dress your baby in wool and long sleeves.
chemical impact. In no case should you smear Mantoux with iodine, alcohol, cream, soap, and even a special baby wash gel. All this will lead to various manifestations of allergies.

Internal factors may well affect the result and distort it. They act on the immunological status of the body. This, for example, vaccinations or exacerbation of any skin disease. By the way, the Mantoux test should be done strictly before any vaccination or after a month from the date of vaccination.

Even foods that can cause allergies can have an impact:

citrus,
chocolate,
spices,
milk, etc.

A contraindication to the injection is a feverish state and deterioration of the child's condition against the background of any disease.

Why can't you wet Manta?

Wetting the injection site significantly distorts the result when performing the Pirquet test, in which a certain amount of tuberculin is dripped onto the skin, then make a scratch. In this case, water can really dilute the allergen and significantly distort the result.

This does not happen with the Manu test, but moisture is still best avoided. In tap water, there are various impurities and pathogens that may well enhance the manifestation of an allergic reaction and thereby affect the diagnostic result.

How many days can not wet Mantoux?

In general, the result of the test is evaluated after three days. It is better to refrain from any manipulations with the injection site until the very moment of examination by a doctor. It is forbidden to soap the injection site, and even more so to rub it with a washcloth. You should not go to the bathhouse and rooms with humid air for three days. All this can lead to the manifestation of unforeseen reactions that can give a false positive result.

What should I do if water still gets on the injection area?

It is highly desirable to prevent any wetting of the injection site, but if this happened by accident, then there is no need to panic. The injection site should be blotted with a clean cloth, but this should be done carefully and in no case should the skin be rubbed. Nothing else is required.

More often, small amount of water in the area injection does not affect the result in any way. But, if the wetting of the injection occurred and in the end the result turned out to be positive, you should definitely tell the doctor about it.

What should be done to prevent wetting of the Mantoux test?

First of all, the child must be constantly monitored by his parents. Control should be from the moment the drug is administered until the next doctor's appointment. It is necessary to help the child wash his hands, wash his face and forget for a while that he should be an adult and independent. It is better for older children to explain what is happening and talk about why the test is being done and why it cannot be scratched and wet.

The Mantoux reaction is not a protection against tuberculosis, but a timely diagnosis of the presence of tuberculosis in a child's body. Currently, this disease is very common and it is quite easy to get infected, but the treatment is very difficult. Early diagnosis is the key to successful therapy.

In conclusion, I would like to summarize what has been said and answer whether it is possible or not to wet the sample and why it is impossible to influence the injection site. It is unlikely that a small ingress of water at the injection site will significantly distort the result of the test, but in order to to be sure of the authenticity result and to be sure that a negative test is really such, you need to protect the child from water procedures and other mechanical effects on the injection for some time.

Tuberculosis is one of the most dangerous diseases. Despite all the efforts of modern medicine, the disease is actively spreading, threatening primarily people with weakened immune systems, living in overcrowding, having poor nutrition. To get rid of the disease, it is necessary to undergo long-term treatment, and it is important to identify it in the early stages. Children are a vulnerable category of the population, doctors tend to check them regularly, conducting an allergy test, which is called the Mantoux reaction. It allows you to detect the presence of Koch's bacillus, which is the causative agent of tuberculosis, in the body.

The injection site must not be wetted; doctors warn parents and the baby about this every time a test is performed. But why should water not be allowed to enter, and what will happen if moisture still gets on the skin at the injection site? What else can not be done until the moment when the area of redness is measured? These questions need to be answered.

What happens if water gets on Manta?

Wash your hands - with care

The reason why you should not wet the skin at the injection site is very simple. Liquid ingress may cause swelling. The redness will spread over a large area, giving a false positive result. You will have to take additional measures to clarify the situation and make the correct diagnosis, which will force you to spend extra time and nerves. To avoid these and other problems, it is worth doing everything possible not to wet the injection site until the doctors take measurements. Even hands should be washed with care, under the supervision of parents.

How is a tuberculosis test done?

This method of testing for tuberculosis was introduced by the French doctor Charles Mantoux, it is named after him. The test is carried out by intradermal injection of the drug, it is completely safe for the child. The remedy is not living, but destroyed Koch's sticks, in fact, it is an extract from them. In antigenic terms, it is completely identical to bacteria, the human immune system recognizes the substance as the direct causative agents of tuberculosis. The reaction of the body to the administered drug allows you to diagnose, determine which of the children is sick and who is healthy. An injection is made in the forearm, in the inner upper part, then a period of 3 days is waited, during which it is impossible to wet the skin.

During this period, the immune system manages to work, an allergic manifestation occurs in the form of a red spot at the injection site, which gradually resolves. After three days, doctors measure the result, noting both the size of the spot and its brightness. If during this period the child at least once wet the injection site, the result may be unreliable.

Evaluation of the Mantoux reaction

It would seem that the smaller the size of the allergic spot, the better. But this is not entirely true. If it is absent, or if the reddening diameter is less than 0.5 mm, then there is no protective reaction. This situation means that the child’s immune system “does not know” about the presence of this pathogen - this happens when the baby was not given a BCG vaccine at the maternity hospital, or if it was done incorrectly. If the spot is more than 5 mm in diameter, an additional consultation and examination is necessary to find out whether the child is sick or not. There is no need to panic right away, since there are a number of factors that can give a false positive result. Despite all the informativeness of this diagnostic measure, in some cases it can give an inaccurate result.

In what other cases will the result be inaccurate?

An incorrect result may occur if the child overheated or stayed in a stuffy room for a long time. Increased air humidity, steam from a sauna or bath, an attempt to scratch the injection site can change the result and give a false positive reaction. The same applies to attempts to press the injection site, squeeze out the papule. It is necessary to explain this to the child and observe him during the period preceding the test. For most babies, it is enough to say that if the measures named by the doctor are not followed, a new injection will have to be given.

Interesting fact: some parents believe that by sealing the place of application of the drug under the skin with a plaster, they can eliminate the influence of water. The opinion is wrong, under the patch, a false positive reaction is almost guaranteed.

Is it dangerous to get water on Manta? What to do if this happened?

In addition to a false positive result, there are no special dangers. There is, perhaps, a risk of inflammation if the child bathes in an open pond, or dirty water gets into the injection site - microorganisms can get into the wound. The only thing to do when the child still wets the area of redness is to blot the water with a sterile napkin. This place cannot be disinfected.

Thus, the ingress of water on the Mantoux leads to a false positive result and the need to undergo additional checks. That is why doctors constantly remind that it is impossible to wet your hand before the test, which takes place after 3 days.

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Tuberculosis is an extremely dangerous disease that is quite common throughout the world. It exhausts the body, and its treatment takes a long time.

Below we will talk about the Mantoux test, which determines the presence of a tubercle bacillus in the body. Since it is extremely important to make an accurate diagnosis, everyone should know how to behave after the Mantoux vaccination, in particular, is it possible to wet the injection site.

The Mantoux reaction belongs to the well-known methods for the initial diagnosis of tuberculosis. According to such an event, tuberculin is injected intradermally into the middle of the forearm from the inside. After the product enters the skin, a small seal resembling a button is formed at the injection site.

It is worth noting that the Mantoux reaction is carried out for children annually from 1 to 14 years.

The results are checked after 3 days with a ruler. The dimensions of the seal are recorded in the child's medical record. The normal button diameter is 4 mm or less. With a papule size of 5 to 16 mm, it is believed that the child was in contact with Mycobacterium Bovis, which provokes tuberculosis. In this case, children should visit a phthisiatrician for a more detailed diagnosis.

Mantoux vaccination for how many days you can not wet

Many may wonder if a mantle has been vaccinated, how many days you can not wet it in this case. Until the test results are taken, it is advisable not to even touch the Mantoux test for 3 days. The injection site should not be soaped, much less rubbed with a washcloth. In this regard, when asked whether it is possible to wet the Mantoux vaccine, it is safe to say that it is impossible.

At this time, it is forbidden to go to the bath or sauna, as high humidity and temperature can cause an unexpected reaction and adversely affect the test result.

What happens if you wet the sample

When it is possible to wet the mantle after vaccination, we have already figured it out. Unlike the Pirquet test, in which if water gets on the allergen, the results of the study will definitely be spoiled, with the Mantoux test everything is not so simple. However, even in this case, after a mantoux test while in the pool, for example, if you wet the injection site, impurities in the water in some cases can also distort the result.

What absolutely cannot be done

Distortion of the results of the Mantoux test can occur due to such factors:

Staying for a long time in a room with poor ventilation and high humidity.
Damage to the skin at the injection site. It is forbidden to scratch, rub or squeeze the button.
Applying a bandage or bandage to the injection site.
Wearing woolen clothes, or anything else that irritates the skin.
Any preventive vaccinations that affect the immune system. Mantoux vaccination should be carried out before vaccination or one month after it.
Any antiseptics (alcohol, iodine, peroxide), soaps and creams can cause allergies.
During the period of Mantoux vaccination, it is advisable not to eat foods that often cause allergic reactions of the body: fish, fruits, chocolate and other sweets.
Bathing in public places.

Is it worth sticking a mantle with a band-aid

Any patch clearly affects the Mantoux vaccination. The adhesive part of the patch is an excellent environment for the development of pathogenic bacteria. At the same time, the sealed place is deprived of oxygen access, as a result of which sweat and subcutaneous fat begin to be produced. As a result, the papule may become inflamed, and doctors will consider such a reaction as a positive result for tuberculin.

The injection site cannot be sealed even in such cases:

the baby often scratches the injection site;
visiting the pool or taking a shower - any place where you need to wet the Mantoux vaccination site;
during sporting events or those that require active work.

How wrong actions can affect the sample

As mentioned above, in order for doctors to be able to correctly interpret the results of the Mantoux vaccination, the child must adhere to certain rules within 3 days after the test.

delete from the diet any foods that provoke allergies, as well as contact with woolen things;
try not to wet the injection site, do not rub it with a washcloth;
do not scratch the injection site, so as not to infect;
do not stick an adhesive plaster and do not bandage the vaccination site, so as not to block the supply of oxygen to the papule;
it is advisable to refuse to visit any reservoirs, as well as saunas and baths.

Following such simple rules after Mantoux vaccination will minimize the chance of distorting the results of vaccination.

I give every child different vaccinations. More vaccines are given in the first year of life than in later years. Also, after this period, the child begins to conduct It is about her that will be discussed in this article. You will find out how much you can not wet Manta, and whether such a ban is needed at all. Also find out what myths are associated with this reaction.

Why can't you wet Manta?

How much should a child not wet Mantoux and why? This is the question many doctors hear in their offices. This statement came to us from ancient times. Then applied directly to the scratched area of the skin. At the same time, doctors categorically forbade contact with any liquid until the reaction was checked. Otherwise, the result could be invalid or false negative. Scratched skin could take a very long time to heal, and the applied substance could simply be washed off with water. That is why such an impact on the treated area was strictly prohibited.

Mantoux vaccination: how much can not be wet?

When applying the tuberculin test, doctors forbade contact with any liquids in the designated area for up to three days. Many laboratory assistants believe that it is possible to remove the reaction that has arisen on the second day after applying the substance, but it is customary to adhere to a three-day break. Most often, the Mantoux test is done at the very beginning. This allows you to evaluate the result at the end of this period.

How many days you can not wet Mantoux: myth and reality

Currently, the Mantoux test is performed by subcutaneous injection of the drug. Despite this, many doctors have the only and irrefutable opinion that the vaccine should not be exposed to any liquid. “How long can you wet Manta?” - ask inexperienced parents. Doctors give a clear answer to this question: "Before checking the reaction." Is it really the case?

To the question of how much Mantoux cannot be wetted, experienced specialists cannot give an intelligible answer. This happens only because it is possible to apply liquid to the vaccine. Due to the fact that in our time the tuberculin test is injected directly under the skin, water cannot get on it and disrupt the reaction. In this case, how much can you wet Mantoux?

Doctors say that it is not necessary immediately after the introduction of the sample to specifically go and put your hand under the water. An unsealed puncture may allow a drop of liquid to enter and affect the reaction of the sample. But it is worth noting that literally after one hour the hole is clogged with clotted blood and does not allow various fluids to penetrate inside. It has been proven that such a process occurs much earlier. However, doctors are playing it safe and asking parents to make sure that their child does not get the vaccine wet in the next hour.

Additional Information

In addition to water, many factors can affect the reaction. So, the injection site of the Mantoux test should not be scratched, rubbed, and even more so pierced. Otherwise, the reaction may be false positive. At the same time, doctors prescribe the appropriate treatment, which will not bring any benefit to a healthy body. Also, before conducting Mantoux, it is worth considering the timing of vaccination. The reaction may be affected by a previous vaccination. Especially if live bacteria and microorganisms were used.

Summing up and conclusion

Now you are well aware of how much Mantu should not be wetted by a child or teenager. When conducting a test, you should talk with your pediatrician and find out all the subtleties of this test. An experienced specialist will tell you about the exact time at which it is impossible to influence the injection site with various liquids. It is also necessary to remember that when the doctor allows you to wet the Mantoux test, this does not mean at all that you need to take a hot bath or go to the bathhouse. Refuse for the next few days from such procedures. Give preference to a light shower. Only in this case the reaction will be as accurate and reliable as possible.

Get all vaccinations up to date. The Mantoux test is carried out annually, at about the same time. The reaction is removed three days after the administration of the drug.

The question of whether it is possible to wet Mantoux is rooted in the deep past. In that past, poorly educated nurses who knew the Pirque test well, having put down Mantoux, strictly forbade wetting it. Immediately, as is often the case among children, a rumor spread that if you wet Mantoux, there would be tuberculosis.

A lot of time has passed since then, and there are probably no nurses left who would remember Pirk. But the horror story about “wetting Manta” lives on and continues to frighten not only children, but also adults.

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What is a Mantoux test?

It consists in assessing the body's response to the introduction of tuberculin into the upper layers of the skin (i.e. not subcutaneously, but intradermally). This preparation contains mortified fragments and has been widely used for more than half a century all over the world.

In the most general sense, the Mantoux test allows you to determine the intensity of a person's immunity to a tuberculosis pathogen.

Under the tension of immunity understand the intensity of the response of the immune system when a particular infection enters the body. Immunity is a complex multi-level system built on the principle of learning. In order for him to react in a timely manner to bacteria and viruses, he must be familiar with them. Such an acquaintance can take place:

When transferring the disease;
after vaccination.

Acquired immunity lasts for years. In the first 2-3 years, it is the most intense, i.e. most responsive to stimuli. Then it starts to weaken. In some people, residual tension can be observed even after 10 years.

The above principles of the immune system underlie the use of Mantoux.

If the body is not familiar with the tuberculosis bacterium, then after the introduction of tuberculin, there will be no reaction.
If the body knows a tuberculosis infection, then a chain of immune reactions will be launched.

In the second case, the immune cells, "remembering", in contact with the antigens contained in tuberculin, start a set of processes, including: the production of interferons and other protein complexes, the activity of which is aimed at isolating the introduced tuberculin.

The more cells in the body that remember the tuberculous pathogen, the more intense the process of isolation of tuberculin in the skin will proceed, the larger the size of the resulting papule will be.

The external manifestation of such isolation is a small focus of inflammation (papule) at the site of the sample.

Why do Mantou?

The Mantoux test shows whether the immune system is familiar with tuberculosis.

It diagnoses 3 conditions:

Vaccination;
latent tuberculosis;
tuberculosis in the active phase.

In the first case, a positive reaction shows that the anti-tuberculosis immunity reacts normally and the person is protected from tuberculosis. Negative - that there is no immunity, and vaccination is required. in the first week of birth and then revaccination is carried out at 7 years. Therefore, in children, the Mantoux test checks, mainly, the immune response to tuberculin.

In the second and third cases, a positive reaction indicates the need for treatment.

Why can't you wet Manta?

The legend that it is impossible to wet Manta, because you can spoil the result, apparently arose a long time ago. Before they started using Mantoux, which is injected into the skin with a special syringe, the Pirquet test was used. It was placed on the skin, by applying notches to the skin - in the same way as any allergological test is performed (tuberculin is the allergen).

It was impossible to wet the Pirquet test: wounds remained on the skin, into which, along with water, an infection or any irritants could get. Thus, the inflammation could have been provoked not by an immune response to tuberculin, but by third-party factors. Naturally, the accuracy of the method suffered from this.

Intradermal administration, which was invented by Charles Mantoux, had an advantage over the Pirquet method: it made it possible to reduce the effect of external stimuli on the test results to zero.

Thus, Mantoux can be wetted. And this is her big plus.

How many days can not wet?

Short-term contact of water with the sample site does not affect the test results in any way.

Tuberculin is injected into the skin. The puncture is made with a thin needle. At the puncture site, the blood coagulates very quickly. From the external environment, nothing can penetrate to the injection site of tuberculin and affect the further reaction.

Nobody forbids you to wet Manta if you do it for a short time, for example, when you wash your hands.

But the question of how much Mantoux cannot be wetted still has the right to exist. Here are the "wet" situations to avoid:

Bathing;
swimming in the pool;
swimming in fresh water.

All this must be abandoned for 3 days.

When can you wet Mantoux?

Since the short-term contact of the test site with water does not have any effect on the further reaction, Mantoux can be wetted on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days.

If possible, you should refuse to use at the injection site:

Any irritating detergents;
alcohol solutions;
sanitary napkins or cosmetics that you have never used before.

Creams and other cosmetic products can cause local irritation. Although the probability of this is quite low, it is not worth the risk. If you get irritated, you can start scratching the injection site - and this is something you should not do.

What to do if you wet Manta

If you wet Mantoux, then you can do it in several ways:

Do nothing, wait 5 minutes - the water will dry itself;
blot the sample site with a tissue or paper towel.

What not to do: use a towel to wipe.

What not to do: wipe the injection site with a towel, rubbing it hard over your arm. With this, you can cause itching at the injection site and start scratching it.

How not to wet Manta

If you are still afraid, then just avoid getting water on the injection site.

You can not peck this place with a plaster or wrap it with polyethylene. Such things can cause more harm than contact with water. Closed skin will sweat, get warmer and itch more.

Consequences

Thus, if you simply wet Mantoux with water, did not use irritating detergents, unfamiliar cosmetics, and did not aggressively wipe the sample site, then there will be no consequences.

At the same time, prolonged exposure to water should be avoided. Again, this is not an absolute contraindication. Most likely, there will be no consequences for further interpretation of the sample either. But it is better not to lie in the bath and not to swim for 2 hours in the pool.

Do not rub the injection site with a washcloth or bath brush. This can lead to itching and scratching, which will certainly affect the result of the test.

Freshwater lakes and rivers are habitats for various microorganisms. Children with established Mantoux need to be careful. Scratching at the site of the test may lead to micro-inflammation and invalidate the tuberculin test result.

From the video you can learn about the rules of conduct after a mantoux test.

Conclusion

Thus, if you wet Mantoux, there is nothing to worry about. Simply blot the area with a tissue or wait for it to dry naturally, avoiding vigorous mechanical wiping.

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