Serotherapy is the application of immune sera of animals or humans for therapeutic purposes in infectious diseases.
Therapeutic immune serum (see) are divided into antitoxic, anti-microbial and anti-virus.
Serotherapy apply in cases where the infectious agents or toxins has already penetrated into the body and there appeared the first clinical signs of infectious disease.
Therapeutic effect depends on the dose and activity of therapeutic sera, titrated according to the International standard in units of (ME), on the degree of purification, the timing of treatment and a way of introduction. Than later started serotherapy, the lower its effectiveness. So after 4 to 5 days from the onset of serotherapy in some cases useless as infectious pathogens or their toxins is already inside of cells, tissues, where they are protected from the action of therapeutic sera.
Apply therapeutic serum, often intramuscularly, rarely subcutaneously and intravenously. Intravenous action serum comes faster and this way of introduction is recommended in cases of emergency with severe course of the disease (severe tetanus, diphtheria and other).
The duration of treatment serum is determined by the tolerance of the drug and therapeutic activity - an average of 2-3 days, but not more than 5-7 days. With the introduction of therapeutic sera should be mindful of the possible appearance of serum sickness (see) and anaphylaxis (see); in this connection it is necessary to take into account the historical data of the complications with the introduction of serum drugs and strictly following the instructions in each case. Before the introduction of the serum should be put intradermal test for individual sensitivity: injected intradermally into the inner surface of the forearm 0.1 ml diluted in 100 times izotoniceski solution of sodium chloride therapeutic serum. The result Allergy testing is read on for 20 minutes and the Sample is considered positive if you receive the redness of the skin and Papula diameter 1-3 cm and more. When negative intradermal test in the skin type of 0.1 ml undiluted serum. In the absence of a response to the dose in 1 hour intramuscularly all the prescribed dose serum. In case of positive reaction of therapeutic serum is administered under General anesthesia in the presence and under the supervision of a physician. With the introduction of serum always at the ready should be syringe with epinephrine (0.1% solution) or ephedrine (5% solution). When symptoms of anaphylaxis (see) subcutaneously administered depending on the age of 0.3-1 ml epinephrine (0.1 %solution) or 0.2 - 1 ml of ephedrine (5% solution). It is also recommended intravenous 1-8 ml of 0.5% solution novokaina, 3-10 ml of 10% solution of calcium chloride, 20-50 ml 20-40% glucose solution. Shows the oxygen, the heart funds.
