thiomersal and children

BACKGROUND: Thiomersal is a preservative containing small amounts of ethylmercury that is used in routine vaccines for infants and children. The effect of vaccines containing thiomersal on concentrations of mercury in infants' blood has not been extensively assessed, and the metabolism of ethylmercury in infants is unknown. We aimed to measure concentrations of mercury in blood, urine, and stools of infants who received such vaccines. METHODS: 40 full-term infants aged 6 months and younger were given vaccines that contained thiomersal (diptheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, and in some children Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine)...

A thiomersal-free and also an albumin-free tick-borne encephalitis-vaccine (TBE-vaccine) was developed. This vaccine was approved by the Austrian health authorities in the year 2000. Contrary to previous experience, 779 cases of fever attacks occurred following the first vaccination of children under 15 years of age. The induction of the immune system by different TBE virus (TBEV) vaccines (FSME-Immun [1999], Ticovac [2000] and FSME-Immun [2001] all from Baxter Hyland Immuno, Vienna) was compared in an in vitro immune stimulation test in order to find an explanation for the unexpected fever attacks...

The inorganic mercurial thiomersal (merthiolate) has been used as an effective preservative in numerous medical and non-medical products since the early 1930s. Both the potential toxicity of thiomersal and sensitisation to thiomersal in relation to the application of thiomersal-containing vaccines and immunoglobulins, especially in children, have been debated in the literature. The very low thiomersal concentrations in pharmacological and biological products are relatively non-toxic, but probably not in utero and during the first 6 months of life...

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia in a group of adolescents and investigate the association of these organisms with various clinical parameters. A total of 527, 11-13-year-old children, of whom 333 (63%) were white Caucasian, 187 (35%) Indo-Pakistani and 7 (1%) Afro-Caribbean, participated in the study. Subgingival plaque samples, collected from the mesio-buccal of both upper first permanent molars using sterile paper points, were stored in phosphate buffered saline with 0...

We present the results of a study, spread over a 12-year period, concerning the frequency of skin sensitization to mercury and some of its compounds in a Spanish community. Among 2,592 subjects suspected of allergic contact dermatitis, 3.5 p. 100 had a positive test to metallic mercury 0.5 p. 100 in petroleum jelly. The pertinence of the test was regarded as "present" or "fast" in 63.9 p. 100 of the cases, and the dermatitis was found to be related to antiseptic Mercurochrome (merbromin) solutions, cosmetics containing ammoniated mercury and inhalation of mercury after breaking of thermometers...

Thiomersal is the preservative in all toxoid vaccines routinely administered to children in the UK, but exposure from other sources is uncommon. Delayed hypersensitivity to thiomersal was demonstrated in 1% of individuals attending the Contact Dermatitis Investigation Unit, and 50 of these patients with positive patch tests to thiomersal were studied. Cross-reaction with other mercurials occurred in 17 of 29 patients tested (59%). 31 of the patients replied to a questionnaire regarding vaccination reactions, and were compared with case-controls matched for age, sex, and site of dermatitis...