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Why does a child develop a fever after vaccination and should it be treated?

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 07.10.2022
 
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The temperature in a child after vaccination for many mothers becomes an unpleasant surprise, which, along with rare reports of dangerous complications and death of children, causes a negative attitude towards vaccination in general. For parents, the life and health of their beloved baby comes first. Negativity causes everything that makes a child suffer at least a little. But is the suffering from fever and swelling at the injection site so severe compared to the consequences that can await a baby who is not protected from dangerous infections?

Why does a child's temperature change after vaccination?

Today, one of the most effective methods of preventing many serious diseases is vaccination. This is exactly the case when the adage "knock out with a wedge" gives wonderful results, saving hundreds and thousands of lives. Most vaccinations are given in childhood, because the immunity formed in the early period protects the baby for many years. Newborns receive their first vaccinations at the maternity hospital.

Vaccination is a specific way to protect our children from serious diseases by stimulating the body to fight infection. The formation and development of the child's immune system occurs within a few years after birth, so babies are more vulnerable to pathogens. The only way to force the baby's body to defend itself is to provoke it by introducing a safe dose of an infectious agent in the form of weakened or inanimate microorganisms and their metabolic products. Some vaccines are synthesized antigens and they also aim to activate the immune system.

Vaccination is a drug-free prophylaxis that has some similarities with homeopathic treatment. But the introduction of infection into the body in any form and quantity usually does not pass without a trace. There is always a response to the introduction of the vaccine, but the degree of its severity may be different.

Some children with a more or less stable immune system do not experience discomfort after vaccination. But a slight temperature in a child after vaccination, swelling and redness at the injection site are also normal. It is worse if the temperature drops, indicating a weak immune system or a weakened state of the body. If a child has a low temperature after vaccination for more than 2 days or is accompanied by other suspicious symptoms, this is already a reason to consult a doctor, and in case of a strong decrease in the thermometer, it is better to call an ambulance.

An increase in body temperature up to 38 degrees is a normal reaction of the body to the introduction of pathogens, which indicates its readiness to fight infection. Higher rates are rarely observed, most often after vaccination with DTP (whole cell) - a complex vaccine against 3 dangerous, difficult-to-treat diseases: whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus.

Inflammation, swelling, hyperthermia, redness - all this is a local response of our immunity. Systemic reactions to the vaccine are much less common, and fever is the most common. An indication of this symptom is in the list of side effects of various vaccines.

Safe reaction or complication?

Understanding why a child has a fever after vaccination, you need to know what causes can affect the course of post-vaccination reactions and cause post-vaccination complications. Rather, the reason is always the same - the introduction of the vaccine and the body's reaction to it. But there are special factors that can enhance this reaction and predispose to more severe reactions that become complications.

An increase in temperature without other dangerous symptoms is not considered a complication. It belongs to the category of post-vaccination reactions, which occur differently in different people. They are most severe in children with an allergic predisposition and a weakened body, and immunodeficiency is generally a contraindication to vaccination of any type. But these are not the only reasons that are considered as part of the pathogenesis of possible complications.

It should be immediately clarified that different vaccines can cause different reactions. If for BCG the most characteristic are pain, redness and swelling at the injection site (approximately 90-95% of children), then for whole cell DPT - a significant increase in temperature (about 50% of cases). Cell-free DTP causes hyperthermia over 38 degrees only in 10% of cases, local reactions occur with the same frequency.

But in addition to the specific composition, vaccines of different production may contain additional components. That, domestic and some imported immunobiological preparations contain a toxic substance - merthiolate. By itself, it does not cause an increase in temperature, but the effect on the nervous system is detrimental. Hence the neurological symptoms and disruption of the nervous regulation of the work of various organs and systems, including the thermoregulation system, which is already imperfect in the baby. However, many doctors believe that vaccine additives are relatively harmless due to their minimal content.

The composition of vaccines is only one of the risk factors for the development of various reactions after vaccination. But there are others.

Allergic predisposition and the presence of chronic diseases from infancy (namely, this trend is seen when examining modern children) increase the likelihood of post-vaccination reactions and possible complications. Considering the statistics of the development of specific and nonspecific reactions, we can say that it is with these children that problems usually arise in the form of a deterioration in well-being, an increase in temperature in a child after vaccination, the appearance of irritability, tearfulness, pronounced skin reactions and exacerbation of existing diseases.

The risk of all kinds of complications of an inflammatory and neurological nature increases if contraindications to the use of vaccines specific to each drug are not taken into account. This most often happens due to the fact that the child was not professionally examined before vaccination, which has already become normal.

Some children have a predisposition to seizures, seizures, neurological disorders, which the vaccine only exacerbates, especially if it contains neurotoxic substances.

Other reasons may be: a violation of the vaccination regimen, the individual characteristics of the child's body (for example, genetic abnormalities that, under certain conditions, can cause autism), violations during the production of vaccines, their storage and transportation, poor-quality drugs, as well as expired vaccines.

Even if we exclude all violations at the stages of production, storage and delivery of vaccines to medical institutions, it is impossible to say that at least one of the vaccines we have is absolutely safe, because in addition to the quality of drugs, there are many other factors that can affect the outcome of the procedure.

Nevertheless, to date, vaccination remains the most effective method of combating the spread of dangerous childhood and adult diseases, which give complications much more often than vaccines.

It is clear that this statement will not ease the pain of parents whose children, after vaccination, became disabled, suffer from autism, or left our world forever. But for many of these kids, it was just a matter of time. Autistic tendencies, neurological symptoms, anaphylactic reactions in children at any time could be triggered by completely different factors. Another thing is that complications can also arise as a result of improper treatment if the child has a severe fever after vaccination, and parents, educators or doctors did not attach due importance to this.

Symptoms of post-vaccination reactions and complications

So, we figured out that the increase in temperature in a child after vaccination in most cases can be regarded as a normal reaction of the body. Temperatures up to 38 degrees should not cause much concern at all, because this is how a healthy body reacts to any infection. A further increase in the thermometer can be caused by both the type of vaccine and the peculiarity of the child's body. However, the possibility of complications cannot be ruled out.

The temperature in a child of 39 and above without signs of a cold after a recent vaccination can normally last no more than 2-3 days. The strongest reaction is usually on the first day after vaccination, so doctors sometimes recommend giving the child an antipyretic immediately. If antipyretics do not give the expected effect, or after 3 days the thermoregulation has not returned to normal, a visit to the doctor is mandatory, otherwise complications cannot be avoided.

Often parents have a question, why do children have cold hands and feet at a high temperature? This is a special kind of fever caused by vasospasm. Many baby systems are formed within a few years after birth, so they can fail at high loads. With a sharp increase in temperature, blood circulation changes. Its sudden increase causes vascular resistance.

This condition is called white fever. Its danger is that spasm of small vessels increases the risk of febrile convulsions if the temperature is not brought down. But he also does not allow this to be done even despite taking antipyretics. In such a situation, there are two options for action: give the child an antispasmodic (you need to be careful, given the small weight of the child) or immerse the arms and legs of the crumbs in warm water. Water will have a relaxing effect and blood circulation will quickly recover.

Cough in a child without fever after vaccination is not a specific symptom of a post-vaccination reaction. It appears infrequently and for various reasons, so it is very important to pay attention to the nature of the symptom. A small cough may occur in response to a sore throat that some children experience in response to a vaccine, often with a slight runny nose (a mild illness that the body can usually deal with on its own).

Certain types of vaccines can cause small rashes, enlargement of the salivary glands, in rare cases, short-term diarrhea or nausea (more often against the background of temperature due to malfunctions in the gastrointestinal tract).

But a strong cough, vomiting, diarrhea and fever in a child after vaccination is already an alarming symptom complex. The phenomenon of intoxication suggests that the body cannot cope with the infection on its own. Perhaps at the time of vaccination, the child was already infected, and the disease worsened.

The first signs of certain disorders in the body can be considered a large swelling at the injection site, and a severe rash all over the body, and difficulty breathing, and any other non-specific symptoms: headaches, dizziness, subfebrile temperature for a long time or jumps in thermometer readings.

This can also include a low temperature in a child after vaccination, provided that it lasts more than 2-3 days and affects the baby's well-being, the appearance of convulsions without fever, and a violation of skin sensitivity. Parents should also be alerted by a sudden change in the behavior of the baby (unusual activity, an excited state, tearfulness or, conversely, isolation, unwillingness to communicate, inadequate response to touch and affection).

Vaccinations and symptoms

A person during his life, especially at the very beginning, has to do more than one vaccination in order to protect himself from dangerous infections. At the same time, the reaction of the body to different vaccines and drugs from different manufacturers can differ markedly. Much depends on the composition of the vaccine: the type of infectious agent, its presence and activity.

Some symptoms are quite predictable, others cannot be predicted in advance, especially since there is often an individual reaction associated with hereditary predisposition or allergies, the state of the body at the time of the vaccine administration. In any case, over many years of practice of vaccination, doctors have decided on certain boundaries of normal and pathological reactions to each drug. And this makes it possible to understand when the temperature after vaccination is considered a variant of the norm, and when it is worth worrying:

Polio vaccines

Among the developed biologics, the most popular at present is the attenuated virus-based oral OPV vaccine used worldwide. Although there are other types of vaccines. So children, from the age of 3 months, are first injected with a drug with an inactivated virus, and then a little later with a live one.

An oral vaccine is a drug that is put into the child's mouth instead of a traditional shot. With this method of administration, there is no question of local reactions, i.e. In the absence of a pronounced allergy to waste products, there is no redness and swelling of the tissues. This vaccine is well tolerated. During the first 2 weeks there are usually no symptoms at all. Since the components of the vaccine pass through the intestines, where they can begin to multiply, some children experience a change in the consistency of the stool and the frequency of defecation, which is not dangerous, but requires attention from doctors.

The temperature in a child after vaccination is rare, and then in the range of 37-37.5 degrees. An increase in temperature to 38 degrees and above is noted in only 1% of children, which does not cause much concern among specialists, if it is not accompanied by other suspicious symptoms. The child is prescribed antipyretics and plenty of fluids.

Hepatitis vaccines

We are talking about vaccination against hepatitis B, which destroys liver cells. Such vaccines are produced by different manufacturers, and they do not have the same qualitative composition, which explains the discrepancies in the figures characterizing the frequency of development of post-vaccination reactions.

The first vaccination is carried out in the maternity hospital, after which the vaccine is repeated 2 more times. Subsequently, revaccination is carried out. A variant of the norm is the appearance of pain, swelling and redness at the injection site, a slight increase in temperature.

In 1-6% of young children, the temperature can rise above 38 degrees. But if it lasts less than 2 days, you should not worry. This is just an indicator that the body is fighting the infection. Hyperthermia for more than 3 days, even in the case of small thermometer readings, should be alarming, as well as the appearance of other unusual symptoms. Systemic reactions in the form of malaise, irritability, etc., are usually unusual for hepatitis vaccination.

Measles vaccines

Measles is a serious infectious disease with a primary lesion of the nervous system. Despite the fact that the disease has been known to mankind for many decades, effective drugs for its treatment have not yet been found. The only way to protect yourself from the disease is prevention through vaccinations, which are given to children 2 times after the child is 1 year old and at 6-7 years old (revaccination), which provides strong immunity to pathogens. The interval between vaccinations is at least 1 month.

The measles vaccine is part of a comprehensive MMR vaccination, effective against 3 viral diseases at once: measles, rubella and mumps (mumps).

Today, the Belgian live vaccine "Priorix" is the most popular drug in Ukraine. The list of side effects of the drug also includes an increase in body temperature, which is considered a passing reaction of the body that does not require serious treatment.

The second most popular drug is the live MMR-II vaccine. The instructions for it also mention the possibility of fever and other side effects, but in childhood they are rather an unfortunate exception. Severe reactions develop extremely rarely, while their connection with the introduction of the vaccine remains doubtful.

It must be said that the measles vaccine is allowed to be done even with a slight hyperthermia associated with a mild cold. The temperature in a child after vaccination, directly related to vaccination, is very rare and requires the attention of specialists if it remains at a high level for more than 2-3 days in combination with other symptoms of malaise. Appearing runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhea, morbilliform rashes and other side effects, as a rule, disappear on their own a few days after the onset.

Rubella vaccines

Rubella is a viral infection that, like measles, is characterized by fever and a skin rash. The danger of these diseases is in their possible complications, despite the fact that there is no specific treatment for these infections. Vaccinations help prevent infection and the spread of infection.

In the case of rubella, we can talk about several types of vaccines produced in different countries (India, Croatia, Belgium, etc.). The rubella vaccine is part of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) combination vaccinations, but can also be administered independently (Indian, Croatian and French vaccines). The latter is recommended for girls 12-13 years old, which should protect expectant mothers from infection during pregnancy.

In most cases, vaccines do not cause any unusual reactions in children. But a slight increase in temperature, an increase in lymph nodes and a rash over the body a few days after the introduction of the vaccine are not ruled out. If the temperature rises to critical levels, this may indicate that at the time of vaccination the child was already unwell.

Vaccines against pneumococcal infection

Pneumococci are the most common causative agents of otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear), bronchitis, meningitis and pneumonia, which are most dangerous in childhood. That is why the introduction of the vaccine against pneumococcus is provided from the age of 6 weeks. In the first year of life, the child receives 2-3 doses of the drug. Revaccination after 1 year is necessary to consolidate the effect.

Most often, the Prevenar vaccine, which is produced in the USA, Ireland, and Russia, is used to prevent pneumococcal infection. It is effective against several serotypes of infection at once, as indicated by the number after the name of the drug. Fever from pneumococcal vaccination is considered a common side effect, affecting more than 1 in 10 patients. Often, the thermometer reaches 39 degrees and above, combined with the appearance of red, painful seals at the vaccination site, vomiting, diarrhea, and a rash. Sometimes a child after vaccination becomes capricious, tearful, convulsions, including febrile ones, are possible.

Diphtheria Vaccines

Diphtheria is a dangerous infectious disease caused by the diphtheria bacillus. Most often affects the oropharynx. In children, the toxin secreted by bacilli often causes a dangerous complication - croup, i.e. Swelling and blockage of the airways with films. At the same time, antibiotic therapy does not give good results, and only antidiphtheria serum helps to save the baby.

The best way to protect your child from a very dangerous disease is vaccination. At the same time, protection against diphtheria is combined with the prevention of other dangerous diseases: tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis.

Until recently, Russian-made DPT was considered the most common diphtheria complex vaccine, which also protects against tetanus and whooping cough. Later, they began to pay attention to imported analogues, such as the French drug Pentaxim, which is an improved version of DTP. This is a 5-component vaccine that also reduces the risk of developing and complicated course of poliomyelitis and hemophilic infection in young children.

Such complex vaccines, when several pathogens or toxoids are simultaneously introduced into the child's body (and vaccination begins at the age of 1 year (3 doses), then at 6 and 14 years), a large load on the immune system. Therefore, it is not surprising that they cause a temperature in a child after vaccination, skin rashes, local (tightness at the injection site, redness) and systemic reactions (irritability, sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, diarrhea, etc.). At the same time, the temperature can normally last up to 5 days.

Usually, the temperature after vaccination is easily brought down with the help of ordinary antipyretics. If it rises above 38 degrees, but antipyretics do not give the expected relief, it is better to seek the advice of a doctor. But an ambulance should be called if the child immediately after vaccination has severe reactions in the form of nausea and vomiting, swelling, signs of an allergic or anaphylactic reaction.

Tuberculosis vaccinations

This is one of the most controversial issues, as many parents do not understand the difference between diagnostic and prophylactic vaccinations. BCG is one of the first preventive vaccinations that a child is given in the first days of his life. In the absence of contraindications, vaccination is carried out on the 4-5th day from the birth of the baby. Otherwise, the day of vaccination is postponed to a later date. If the child has not been vaccinated before 2 months, at a later date, the vaccination is done after the Mantoux test, which is considered a diagnostic vaccination. If the Mantoux reaction is negative, the child is given a preventive vaccination. At the age of 7, revaccination is carried out, which also requires a preliminary Mantoux test. Between vaccinations must pass at least 3 and no more than 14 days. The Mantoux test is performed annually until the age of 14, because BCG does not provide 100% protection against tuberculosis.

BCG in 90-95% of cases causes redness, pain and swelling at the injection site, but systemic reactions are usually absent. In most cases, at the site of the wound, which heals within a few months (usually 1-3 months), a specific scar is formed.

If the scar does not heal within 5-6 months, suppuration appears and the body temperature rises, this is already a reason to see a doctor. Normally, the temperature in a child after BCG vaccination does not rise much either during the neonatal period or during revaccination.

The Mantoux test is the body's reaction to the introduction of tuberculin. It is determined by the size of the seal formed at the injection site. And although this is a diagnostic vaccine, the reaction to the subcutaneous injection of an extract of bacteria can be quite serious even in the absence of pronounced local symptoms. The child may have a fever, irritation, lethargy, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, worsening appetite and sleep. All these symptoms require the attention of a specialist.

Rabies vaccinations

Such vaccination is not included in the officially approved vaccination schedule. Preventive vaccination is carried out only for people who come into contact with stray animals that are potentially at risk of contracting the rabies virus.

For humans, this virus is extremely dangerous, often fatal, therefore, in the absence of preventive vaccinations, it is very important to contact a medical facility as soon as possible when in contact with a sick animal. If there was a bite, no later than 3 days after it, if the saliva of a sick animal got on the skin, no later than 14 days.

Small children, due to their curiosity and insecurity, are often attacked by animals, often homeless. When contacting a medical facility, such children are given a series of vaccinations: immediately after treatment, on days 3 and 7. If the status of the animal is unknown, then the vaccination is repeated on the 30th and 90th day.

This vaccine has no contraindications, because it is a real and only chance to save a person's life, but the vaccine still has side effects. In addition to local symptoms (swelling at the injection site, enlargement of nearby lymph nodes), systemic reactions (weakness, headache, fever) are also possible. These reactions are not dangerous. Complications of vaccination include anaphylactic shock, serum sickness, and neurological disorders.

Tick vaccinations

This is another type of optional vaccination, which, nevertheless, is able to prevent the dangerous consequences of the bites of small parasites that overshadow spring and summer outdoor recreation. In children, tick bites often cause severe inflammation of the membranes of the brain, which is manifested by muscle and headaches, aching joints, fever and fever, vomiting, lethargy, swelling of the brain. The disease is treatable if you immediately seek help. But given a certain risk, it is still more rational to resort to preventive vaccination if the child spends a lot of time in nature.

Vaccination should be carried out in advance, about a month before going out into the wild. At the same time, the immunity developed with its help is enough for 3 years, during which the baby will either not become infected with an insect bite, or will suffer a mild illness. This significantly reduces the risk of dangerous complications and death of the child.

A tick vaccination is protection against the dangerous tick-borne encephalitis that these insects carry. And like any other vaccine, it can have side effects. Local reactions in the form of redness and swelling at the injection site, diarrhea, muscle pain, increased heart rate, swollen lymph nodes, slight fever (up to 38 degrees), nausea, which disappear within a couple of days, are considered non-dangerous. When a rash and runny nose appear, indicating an allergic reaction, antihistamines are recommended.

But a strong fever in a child after vaccination (above 38.5 degrees), the appearance of convulsions, Quincke's edema, heart failure and joint disorders are already considered serious complications, which are often associated with individual characteristics of the body, existing diseases or non-compliance with doctor's recommendations on vaccination. The vaccine itself is not capable of causing serious illness, because it contains a killed virus, regardless of the manufacturer.

Complications and consequences

Any of the parents at some point faces a choice: to vaccinate the child or to hope that in case of illness the baby will be able to endure it in a mild form? The fact is that none of the vaccines provides full protection against dangerous diseases. Drugs only reduce the risk of infection, and if it occurs, they help to alleviate the course of the disease. After all, the goal of vaccination is to develop a strong immunity against pathogens, and how strong it will be depends on the individual characteristics and type of infectious agent that the body has encountered.

Today, a growing number of new, vaccine-resistant strains of pathogens are emerging that can cause serious illness even in vaccinated children. And yet, vaccination remains a real chance to protect your child from dangerous infections, which only strong immunity can cope with, which young children cannot boast of. The baby's immune system is formed within a few years after birth, which makes babies vulnerable to real, albeit invisible to the naked eye, danger.

The formation of specific immune cells responsible for adequate protection of the body in case of contact with a specific pathogen is a complex process, associated with a heavy load on the immune system. After all, such immunity is produced by force, by introducing a provoking component (and there are several of them in complex vaccines). It is clear that the reaction of the body will be necessary, but it is different for different children, and it is very difficult to predict it.

Due to the danger of adverse reactions and possible complications after vaccination, many parents have a negative attitude towards this kind of prevention, relying on the fact that maybe it will carry through, and not realizing all the dangers of those complications that are fraught with such serious diseases as diphtheria, measles, mumps (especially for boys), pneumonia, meningitis, encephalitis, etc. Some of these diseases are deadly and have already claimed many children's lives, despite ongoing treatment.

Isolated cases of death of children or the development of mental disorders in them after vaccination, upon careful examination, turned out to be associated with vaccination only indirectly. There were violations during vaccination: severe anaphylactic reactions, when the child was not observed by specialists within a few minutes after vaccination, contraindications were not taken into account, examination was not carried out on the eve of vaccination, a low-quality vaccine was used. Some children had a genetic predisposition to autistic reactions, which could also manifest themselves in response to another stimulus.

Doctors consider vaccination a justified risk, because by vaccinating one child, we protect all those people with whom he comes into contact. And it is quite possible for everyone to minimize complications after vaccination if they examine the child before vaccination, observe him after vaccination and give preference only to high-quality drugs with a low level of side effects.

The temperature in a child after vaccination is just a reaction of the body to the introduction of foreign substances. By itself, this reaction is not terrible and up to certain values it is considered quite justified and adequate. The main thing is that the temperature does not reach critical levels and does not last too long, causing heart complications.

For a doctor, body temperature is an important indicator of how the body reacts to an infection, whether it is able to fight it. After all, vaccines contain a safe amount of dead or live pathogens that the immune system must deal with without consequences. If the temperature is high and does not subside, then everything is not so smooth in the body, the child needs additional examination and treatment.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic examination of small patients is a mandatory procedure that should precede any vaccination. Thus, it is possible to reduce the risk of developing post-vaccination reactions and complications, most of which are associated with an acute or chronic somatic disease in a child. Some vaccines can exacerbate chronic pathologies or shorten the incubation period of latent acute diseases that are gaining new momentum in the post-vaccination period.

In real life, doctors of children's institutions are limited to only a superficial examination of the child. In the absence of fever, runny nose and redness of the throat, the child is considered healthy. It is necessary to take tests only for those children who are registered with blood pathologies.

Ideally, it would be useful to carefully study the medical record of a small patient, because vaccinations cannot be given to children who have recently had infectious or severe somatic diseases. After a severe acute respiratory viral infection, the interval should be at least 2 weeks, for more serious infections (bronchitis, meningitis, pneumonia, etc.) - at least 1 month. Limiting the conversation with parents, the doctor runs the risk of prescribing vaccination to a weakened child, which is fraught with complications.

Each disease has an incubation period during which the infection does not manifest itself. It is quite difficult to identify the disease at this stage, therefore, in some babies, it is detected after the introduction of the vaccine. This does not mean at all that it was the vaccine that provoked the disease.

If a child has a fever after vaccination and other pathological symptoms appear that last for several days and are difficult to treat with conventional drugs, an additional examination should be carried out to identify the cause of such a reaction. In this case, the baby may be prescribed blood and urine tests that will show an increase in the number of white blood cells and help determine the type of pathogen. The doctor pays great attention to a conversation with the child's parents, which helps to clarify the symptoms, provides information about the baby's previous reactions to drugs and vaccines, past diseases that were not included in the medical record.

Instrumental diagnostics is carried out only if there are complications on vital organs: heart, kidneys, joints, brain. An encephalogram of the brain, a cardiogram of the heart, CT or MRI, and ultrasound may be prescribed.

The differential diagnosis of post-vaccination reactions is considered very difficult. The fact is that they can normally appear at different times depending on the vaccine administered. So, when vaccinated with DTP or other live vaccines, the symptoms of malaise that appeared 3 days after the administration of the vaccine are no longer considered as associated with the vaccination. On the other hand, even in the first days after vaccination, the appearance of symptoms of a latent disease, which can be superimposed on post-vaccination reactions, cannot be ruled out.

With the introduction of complex MMR vaccines, on the contrary, an increase in temperature in a child after vaccination in the first 4-5 days or after 2 weeks is considered a symptom not associated with vaccination. But hyperthermia in the specified interval is considered as a post-vaccination reaction, i.e. Associated with drug administration. At the same time, it is impossible to exclude the possibility that the same ARVI can join in the midst of a measles reaction to vaccination. If the symptoms of the disease remain 14 days after the introduction of the vaccine, it is possible to suspect the addition of ARVI in a child.

In the formulation of a differential diagnosis, a large role is allocated to laboratory tests, and in particular to a general analysis of blood and urine. If they remain unchanged, we are talking about post-vaccination complications, but signs of an inflammatory reaction indicate complications associated with concomitant diseases. Blood biochemistry is prescribed in the presence of convulsions, which are also associated with the child's health deviations.

Virological examination of urine, saliva and blood is necessary to differentiate the causative agent / causative agents of the disease (those against which vaccination is carried out, resistant strains or others: herpes viruses, enteroviruses, etc.). The study of feces allows you to detect enteroviruses and the polio virus.

Depending on the alleged diagnosis, additional instrumental studies are prescribed: X-ray, ECG, EEG, EchoEG, EMG, ultrasound of the brain, CT and MRI. Such an examination helps to differentiate the symptoms of somatic diseases from similar post-vaccination reactions. Without his data and the establishment of causal relationships, it is very difficult to understand the safety of vaccines. And this is another important reason to carefully study each case of post-vaccination complications occurring against the background of persistent high fever and other pathological symptoms.

How to bring down the temperature after vaccination?

In the first years of his life, a small person receives several types of vaccinations, which are designed to protect him from dangerous diseases, which are very difficult for an unprepared body to cope with. But the forcible development of immunity by introducing microscopic doses of an infectious component into the body does not pass without a trace, as evidenced by the presence of post-vaccination reactions, among which is a high temperature in a child after vaccination.

Considering that different vaccinations have their own characteristics of the course of post-vaccination reactions, as well as the possibility of developing various complications, the question of when, how and whether it is necessary to bring down the temperature after vaccination should be approached very responsibly. On the one hand, if we are talking about possible reactions after vaccinations, we understand that the child is healthy, the temperature increase is not caused by the disease, which means there is nothing to worry about. Why bring down the temperature that is needed to fight pathogens?

But on the other hand, high temperature is a certain load on the cardiovascular system, and if the child tolerates indicators up to 38-38.5 degrees normally, then higher numbers require certain actions on the part of adults. At a temperature of 39-40 degrees, the blood becomes thicker, and it becomes difficult for the heart to overtake it. But after vaccination, a situation may arise when it is simply impossible to do without antipyretics and cooling procedures in order to prevent possible complications of hyperthermia.

Despite the fact that most children remain active and mobile even at a temperature of 39-39.5 degrees, domestic pediatricians do not recommend waiting for such high numbers. In their opinion, even subfebrile temperature, approaching 37.5-38 degrees, is dangerous for babies up to 3 months. In older children, it is worth paying attention not only to the thermometer readings, but also to the condition of the child. If the baby becomes lethargic or capricious at 38 degrees, you should not delay taking antipyretics, and for children with normal health, such haste is not necessary.

If a child's temperature rises above 38 degrees after vaccination, this is not a reason to panic. It is important to pay attention to other suspicious symptoms: non-specific rash, shortness of breath, stool disorders, vomiting, bluish tinge of the skin at the injection site, etc. In their absence, it is enough to take measures to reduce body temperature, which usually lasts no more than 3 days.

When administering the DTP vaccine and anti-polio drugs, it is important to understand that hyperthermia that occurs 4-5 days after vaccination is considered normal. And the polio vaccine can remind of itself with post-vaccination reactions after 2 weeks. In other cases, an increase in temperature can be expected in the first days after vaccination.

Many parents are concerned about the question of what to do if the child has a fever after vaccination. The main thing is not to panic, but try to understand the situation: how high is the temperature, on what days did it appear and how long does it last, if there are other alarming symptoms?

Some parents, in fear that the baby may have a fever, give him antipyretic drugs in advance. Most pediatricians do not share this view, and they can be understood. After all, temperature is an indicator that the body is fighting the disease. In addition, hyperthermia outside the control period indicates that the body is unhealthy, which means that additional examination and treatment is required. Here it is necessary to fight not with the temperature, as a reaction of the body, but with the causative agents of the disease.

In addition, post-vaccination fever is not as bad as some allergic, and especially anaphylactic reactions. Therefore, it is better not to rush home after vaccination, but to wait half an hour in a medical institution, where, in which case, the child will be able to provide emergency care. And this time can be spent on a consultation with a specialist about what side effects are typical for this vaccination, whether the child can have a fever and in what period, what drugs and procedures will help normalize the child's body temperature.

You can bring down the temperature after vaccination only if you are convinced that it is not associated with the disease, i.e. There are no other symptoms of malaise. To combat hyperthermia, doctors recommend the use of antipyretics for children (antipyretics and NSAIDs). Most often, paracetamol preparations (Paracetamol, Panadol, Kalpol, Eferalgan) and ibuprofen (Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Motrin) are recommended in childhood. For young children, the form of release of these drugs in the form of syrup or rectal suppositories is preferable.

You can start the treatment of hyperthermia not with medicines, but with procedures that are effective at temperature: wiping the baby's body with water, wrapping it with a damp sheet, blowing it with a fan, drinking plenty of water. If such treatment does not work, seek help from drugs or apply complex procedures.

Stronger remedies for temperature from the category of NSAIDs (for example, nimesulide preparations) or analgin (with intolerance to NSAIDs) should be prescribed by a doctor if the treatment has not given a result. The antipyretic Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), popular among adults, is not suitable for the treatment of children, in whatever form and with whatever name it is produced.

Medications

Understanding that the temperature in a child after vaccination is a normal reaction of a healthy body, one should not rush with drug treatment. But the methods offered by alternative and traditional medicine do not always help to cope with hyperthermia, and then, willy-nilly, one has to resort to pharmacy remedies, especially if the child has shortness of breath, lethargy, drowsiness and other undesirable symptoms due to hyperthermia.

Of the first aid for hyperthermia in children, doctors put paracetamol in the first place, as a medicine with a minimum of side effects, relatively safe even for infants. But paracetamol tablets, which are in almost every home first aid kit, are not the best form for treating children. Therefore, pharmacological companies today produce a number of drugs based on paracetamol for children in forms convenient for babies: suspensions, syrups, rectal suppositories.

Paracetamol Baby is a sweet syrup for babies with a pleasant berry flavor. 1 spoon of syrup (5 ml) contains 125 mg of active ingredient. This drug normalizes the temperature both in post-vaccination reactions and in many childhood infections.

The drug is approved for use from 6 months. Babies under 2 years old should be given 5 ml of the drug at a time. Children 2-4 years old - 7.5 ml, 4-8 years old - 10 ml, 8-10 years old - 15 ml, etc. A single dose should not exceed 60 mg of paracetamol per 1 kg of a child's weight, and the frequency of administration should not exceed 4 times a day.

Without consulting a doctor, the medicine can be given to a child for no more than 3 days. In combination with other drugs, paracetamol can only be used with the permission of a doctor if the effect is insufficient, taking into account drug interactions.

Contraindications to taking the drug are: intolerance to its components, serious violations of the liver and kidneys, blood diseases, disorders of sugar metabolism.

Side effects of the drug in most cases develop against the background of hypersensitivity to it or other NSAIDs or when using high doses. Most often, parents experience allergic skin rashes, less often there are bronchospasms, gastrointestinal symptoms (pain, nausea, loose stools), anemia.

"Panadol Baby" is an antipyretic and analgesic drug for children, produced in the form of a suspension and rectal suppositories. Since the product does not contain sugar and sweeteners, it has very few contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug and other NSAIDs and severe disorders of the liver and kidneys.

Both forms of drugs are approved for use from 3 months. Suspension for babies of the first year of life is given in the amount of 2.5-5 ml. For children under 6 years old, the dose can be increased to 10 ml per dose. Children 6-12 years old can take 10-20 ml per dose. To avoid overdose, the frequency of administration should not exceed 4 times a day, and the interval between doses should be at least 4 hours.

Rectal suppositories are used to treat babies under 3 years old. At a time, 1 suppository is injected into the rectum. The procedure can be repeated no more than 3 times a day with an interval of at least 4 hours.

With the permission of the doctor, the drug, if necessary, can be used to treat children under 3 months. The duration of admission without consulting a specialist in any case should be no more than 3 days.

Side effects of the drug are extremely rare in the form of an allergic skin rash.

"Kalpol" - soft pink suspension with strawberry flavor for children from 3 months to 6 years. Like Panadol, with the permission of a doctor, it can be used to combat post-vaccination hyperthermia in children under 3 months old.

Infants from 3 months to 1 year 3-4 times a day an hour after meals are given 2.5-5 ml of the drug, children 1-6 years old - up to 10 ml for no more than 3 days as an antipyretic.

The drug is not prescribed for children with individual sensitivity to the drug, with severe disorders of the liver and kidneys, blood diseases, glucose metabolism disorders. Not recommended for babies in the first month of life.

Side effects of the drug are observed infrequently. The most common symptoms are: allergic skin rash, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, angioedema is possible.

As for NSAIDs, which are also able to effectively deal with high fever in a child after vaccination, ibuprofen is traditionally considered a drug with a minimum of side effects. But again, not the usual tablet forms are used to combat hyperthermia in children.

Nurofen is a popular children's drug based on ibuprofen, produced in the form of a suspension with a fruit and berry flavor and rectal suppositories. The latter have a more gentle effect on the gastrointestinal tract, therefore they are recommended for infants. Suspension is recommended for children from 3 months to 12 years, suppositories - from 3 months to 3 years.

The oral suspension comes with a measuring syringe that facilitates dosing of the drug. To minimize the irritating effect of NSAIDs on the gastric mucosa, it is better to take the medicine with meals.

With an increase in body temperature after vaccination for children up to six months, it is recommended to give 2.5 ml of the drug 1-2 times a day with an interval of 6 hours. For older children, the dose is calculated based on the fact that the child should receive no more than 30 mg of ibuprofen per day for each kg of weight (for a child weighing 10 kg, the maximum daily dose is 300 mg of ibuprofen or 15 ml of suspension). The interval between doses of the medicine should be at least 6 hours.

Suppositories for babies up to 9 months are injected into the rectum one at a time 3 times a day, for older children - 4 times a day.

Like most NSAIDs, the drug has a decent list of contraindications; hypersensitivity to the components of the drug and other NSAIDs, a combination of bronchial asthma with nasal polyposis, erosive and ulcerative diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, a history of gastric and cerebrovascular bleeding, severe liver, kidney, heart disease, blood clotting disorders. The drug is not prescribed for babies whose body weight is less than 5 kg.

Side effects of ibuprofen are possible with prolonged use or high doses. Sometimes there were complaints of abdominal pain, nausea, dyspepsia, allergic and anaphylactic reactions, headaches. Other symptoms were very rare.

The children's drug "Motrin" based on ibuprofen is used by analogy with the suspension "Nurofen". The drugs have the same concentration of the active substance (5 ml of suspension contains 100 mg of ibuprofen), similar contraindications and side effects. "Motrin" is approved for use from the age of 6 months. In case of fever due to vaccination, the recommended dose is 2.5 ml of suspension twice a day with an interval of 6 hours.

Alternative Treatment

No matter how safe a pharmacy drug may seem in the eyes of doctors, many parents are in no hurry to use drugs, realizing the harm that medicinal chemistry can cause to a child's body. Why drug a healthy baby when alternative medicine offers many safe natural remedies that can help if a child has a fever after vaccination.

It is worth remembering about alternative means even with insufficient effect from taking medications. Comprehensive treatment helps to reduce the dosage of drugs and at the same time get a good effect.

What methods have been used since ancient times by the people to reduce the temperature and can they be used in the treatment of children? The most common method of dealing with hyperthermia is cold compresses and wiping the baby's body with water. True, compresses are more suitable if the baby is lethargic and can stay in bed for some time. It is recommended to apply a napkin soaked in cool water on the forehead and areas of profuse sweating (axillary and inguinal regions). You can also wipe your baby's hands and feet with a damp towel.

For babies, wrapping in a damp sheet and cooling the air with a fan (it should not be directed at the child) can be considered good methods of dealing with temperature.

As for rubbing with solutions with the addition of alcohol or vinegar, such treatment can only harm the child, because toxic substances enter the body through the skin, and besides, alcohol is considered incompatible with taking antipyretics. The only thing that doctors do not reject is a solution (1: 1) of natural apple cider vinegar, which does not harm babies.

Helps in the fight against post-vaccination fever and herbal treatment. The temperature in children and adults is brought down by an enema with chamomile. For the same purposes, a saline solution is also used (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water at room temperature). But such treatment is often not recommended, so as not to disturb the intestinal microflora.

At a temperature, you need to make sure that the child drinks more liquids, and it is better if these are diaphoretic teas. Especially popular in this regard are infusions of raspberry leaves, lime blossom, currant leaves and berries, cranberries.

Fruits and berries with a high content of vitamin C help fight hyperthermia: blackcurrant, rosehip, sea buckthorn, oranges, kiwi, mountain ash, strawberries. The main thing is that they do not cause an allergic reaction in the baby.

It is very important to ensure that the air in the room where the child is located is not too dry and hot (ideally, the temperature should be between 18-20 degrees). The room must be regularly ventilated. While the temperature is high, it is better to refrain from long walks and swimming.

Homeopathy

If alternative methods do not help, and the temperature in the child after vaccination is still high, you have to look for other means to reduce it. A good alternative to pharmacy medicines are homeopathic medicines, which have virtually no contraindications and side effects. True, such remedies are beneficial only if they are prescribed by an experienced homeopath, and self-medication is fraught with complications.

The disadvantage of such funds is the long interval between taking the drug and the onset of the desired effect. But a sharp decrease in temperature during post-vaccination reactions is usually not required. Homeopathic remedies will help the baby to endure the high temperature more easily, gradually returning it to normal levels.

Among the homeopathic remedies used for hyperthermia in children, Aconite, Belladonna, Bryonia, Arnica, Rhus toxicodendron, Arsenicum album, Chamomilla are most effective. But choosing between drugs, the doctor relies not on one specific symptom, but on their combination.

So Aconite is prescribed if the child has a high temperature, he becomes restless, the face turns red in bed, and turns pale when getting up, the baby is tormented by intense thirst. Belladonna is indicated for hyperthermia in combination with thirst, drowsiness, chills, insomnia, headaches. Arsenicum is effective in fever associated with thirst, in which vomiting occurs after drinking, anxiety, chills, loss of appetite. Chamomilla is effective for mild thirst and chills, sweating, irritability, attention demands, and helps sensitive children.

In any case, the doctor should select the drug, and the task of the parents is to clearly explain what the temperature increase is supposedly due to and what additional symptoms they observed in their baby.

Prevention

An important measure for the prevention of adverse reactions is the careful selection of preparations for vaccination and the elimination of technical errors during the procedure (trained personnel, compliance with sanitary and hygienic requirements and instructions for the use of preparations, their proper storage and transportation). Particular attention should be paid to the correct selection of the dose of the vaccine.

Medical staff should carefully select children for vaccination and take care of patronage in the post-vaccination period. For children weakened by frequent diseases, general strengthening procedures and antiviral drugs are preliminarily prescribed.

It is important for parents to pay attention to the condition of the baby on the eve of vaccination, you need to tell the doctor about all unusual symptoms. Do not rush to give your child antipyretic drugs for prophylactic purposes. This may help the baby, but there is a risk that the medicine will mask the real cause of the fever - a serious illness that you did not suspect or forgot about.

Forecast

Making predictions about whether a child will have a temperature after vaccination and what it will be associated with is a thankless task. And yet, it is worth paying special attention to children who are prone to allergic diseases, have chronic diseases that can be aggravated as a result of the introduction of pathogens or their toxins, immunity weakened by diseases. There are a number of contraindications to vaccination, given which complications can be avoided:

  • low weight of the child, less than 2.5 kg with BCG vaccination,
  • negative experience of vaccination in the past, when the baby already had complications against this background,
  • suspected predisposition to autism spectrum disorders,
  • the presence of malignant tumors (not earlier than 3 months after completing the full course of treatment and measures to strengthen the immune system),
  • immunodeficiency, HIV infection (depending on the stage, any or only killed vaccines are administered, some categories of children are prescribed additional vaccination),
  • severe allergic reactions to protein and other components that may be in the vaccine,
  • predisposition to seizures (requires taking anticonvulsants or consulting a specialist),
  • diseases of the nervous system in the acute stage (during the period of remission, vaccinations are not prohibited, but one must take into account the fact that mental illnesses most often worsen during DPT vaccination),

Relative contraindications that suggest postponing vaccination to a later date are:

  • exacerbation of chronic diseases,
  • acute phase of infectious diseases,
  • a recent trip to countries with a different climate or at sea,
  • an epileptic seizure that occurred earlier than 1 month before vaccination.

Given these contraindications, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of developing post-vaccination complications with or without a strong fever.

The temperature in a child after vaccination may increase for various reasons. If this is just a post-vaccination reaction, which doctors and drug instructions warn about, the prognosis is favorable. Symptoms quickly disappear without consequences, the fever is easily knocked down by antipyretics and cooling procedures. If a strong increase in temperature is accompanied by other suspicious symptoms, the child becomes lethargic, apathetic or, conversely, capricious irritable, he develops vomiting, headaches, anorexia, other systemic and local manifestations (for example, inflammation and suppuration of the wound), the prognosis depends on the timeliness helping the baby and the characteristics of a small organism.

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