Question

A child known case of HIV. His CD count is 50. Which vaccine is avoided in him/her

• A. MMR
• B. TT
• C. DPT
• D. BCG

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

A child with HIV having a CD4 count of 50 is considered to have severe immunosuppression. In such a case, live attenuated vaccines are generally avoided due to the risk of causing disease in the immunocompromised host. The MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine is one such live attenuated vaccine and should be avoided when the CD4 count is below a certain threshold, typically less than 200 cells/mm³.

Explanation:

1. The MMR vaccine contains live, weakened viruses, and in severely immunocompromised patients, it poses a risk of causing the actual diseases it aims to prevent.
2. In children with a CD4 count of 50, administering the MMR vaccine could lead to complications due to their compromised immune systems.
3. Other non-live vaccines such as TT (Tetanus Toxoid) and parts of the DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) vaccine are generally considered safe because they do not contain live pathogens.
4. BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) for tuberculosis, another live vaccine, also poses risks similar to the MMR vaccine in such immunocompromised individuals but is not as commonly discussed in this context regarding HIV.

Conclusion: Based on the immunocompromised status and low CD4 count, MMR is the vaccine that should be avoided to prevent potential complications.