Allergies after vaccination

Before talking about the reasons for which allergies occur after vaccination, we should define the concept of a vaccine. So, a vaccine is an immunobiological active agent that causes specific changes in the body, for example:

• the desired effect, that is, the vaccinated person is determined to be immune to a particular infection,
• undesirable - include side effects.

Now let us analyze the essence of adverse reactions, which include allergic processes, which can be local and general.

• local - changes at the injection site, namely: pain, swelling, redness, itching, swelling, urticaria, etc.,
• General ones relate to the body as a whole, that is, here we are talking about elevated temperature, weakness, change in appetite, headache, and so on.

It should be understood that side effects, allergies after vaccination differ from post-vaccination complications. What is the difference?

Complications after vaccination are expressed by a more complex degree of severity than side effects, including allergies. In this case, a sharp drop in blood pressure is possible, which in medicine is called anaphylactic shock - it is classified as the most dangerous allergic reaction to any enzyme included in the administered vaccine. Other types of post-vaccination complications:

• neurological disorders,
• convulsions,
• all kinds of allergies and varying degrees of their manifestation.

Complications after vaccination are very rare; for example, encephalitis caused by the measles vaccine, as statistics show, is 1 case out of 5-10 million.

Complications can also be local and general in nature, which are determined by the following signs:

• with a seal of 3 cm,
• purulent formation, which is possible if the rules for administering the vaccine are not followed,
• inflammation in the vaccination area - as a result of incorrect administration of BCG.

This is what local reactions look like, general reactions are characterized by other symptoms:

• very high body temperature 40ºС and above,
• intoxication.

Children may experience debilitating crying, which is a lesion on the part of the nervous system. There are also convulsions, encephalopathy, a short-term, permanent "failure" of the brain membranes.

There may also be cases where the kidneys, joints, heart, gastrointestinal tract and much more are affected.

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Causes of allergies after vaccination

In general, side effects are generally normal, since the body reacts in this way to the introduction of a foreign antigen, which is usually a fight of the immune system.

It is important to understand that a high temperature is not yet an allergy after vaccination. The increase in temperature in this situation is an immune reaction. Of course, a temperature exceeding 40ºС is already a cause for concern.

Let's consider the causes of local reactions and allergies inclusively:

• the injection itself. When an injection is administered, the needle damages the skin surface, which triggers the body's protective reaction,
• a foreign antigen to which immunity is developed after its introduction,
• vaccination method. If we are talking about intramuscular injection (the best method), then vaccination in the buttock is not the right solution, since it is possible to catch the sciatic nerve or damage the subcutaneous fat. Children under 2 years of age tolerate vaccinations better if the injection process is carried out in the anterolateral plane of the thigh in the middle of its third. In older age, the optimal vaccination site is the deltoid muscle of the shoulder.

Skin reaction after vaccination is caused by:

1. multiplication of the injected virus in the skin,
2. allergy after vaccination,
3. increased bleeding.

Many people think that a mild rash on the skin is an allergy. But this is not always the case. It can be caused by the growth of an injectable virus in the skin, which often occurs after vaccination against measles, rubella, mumps.

The same should be said about the punctate rash, where the consequence is increased bleeding, which is rare after vaccination against rubella. The course of this phenomenon can be either mild (short-term impairment of the blood clotting process) or severe (hemorrhagic vasculitis).

Negligence of doctors can also provoke the occurrence of some problems after vaccination, for example:

• failure to comply with the rules for storing the vaccine, namely, storage in a room where the temperature does not correspond to the required one,
• incorrect injection technique, which is typical for BCG, which should be administered subcutaneously,
• disregard for the recommendations in the instructions regarding the administration of the vaccine, for example, missing the column with contraindications.

Yes! There are cases where an allergy after vaccination occurs only after repeated administration.

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Allergy to DPT vaccine

Side effects and allergies after DPT vaccination have the following causes and symptoms:

• afebrile seizures, i.e. without fever, may occur after DPT vaccination, which happens once in 30,000 to 40,000 vaccinations. The result of such a consequence is irritation of some areas of the brain and its membranes by DPT antigens. Epilepsy is not excluded,
• The purpose of some vaccinations is to deliberately cause local reactions. For example, substances such as aluminum hydroxide, adjuvants specifically cause inflammation to "acquaint" the immune system with the introduced antigen. This is done so that in the future, in case of illness, the body can cope with the disease without any problems.

If after vaccination the vaccinated person notices some side effects, it is not a fact that the cause is an allergy after the DPT vaccination.

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Allergy after DPT vaccination

Today, unfortunately, there is nothing absolutely safe, including vaccinations. But, much more dangerous are the consequences of the infections themselves, which give rise to serious diseases. Plus, based on WHO data, recorded complications are 1 in 15,000 - 50,000 portions of whole-cell injections, for example, Tetrakok, DPT. Let's consider local and general complications, where allergy after DPT vaccination is no exception:

• local: increased size, increased density of tissue areas in the injection area; allergic reaction accompanied by swelling and redness; the size of the "injection" is more than 8 cm. The course of such phenomena is usually 1 - 2 days, and passes without drug treatment. For faster elimination of allergic symptoms, you can use, for example, troxevasin ointment, which is applied to the site of swelling from 3 to 5 times a day until complete recovery,
• General: a child's piercing cry "in one breath", which begins only a few hours after vaccination, lasting 3 hours or more. Often combined with an elevated body temperature. As a rule, such side effects disappear on their own. Antipyretic drugs can be used as treatment (Paracetamol, for example. But it is better to ask a doctor). Convulsive syndrome is an extremely rare event after DPT vaccination (1 case per 50,000 injections):
  • febrile seizures occur as a result of a body temperature above 38ºС, usually on the first day, but no later than three days after vaccination,
  • afebrile seizures can occur at normal or no higher than 38ºС temperature - which happens extremely rarely, but their consequences are dangerous. If a child develops such symptoms after vaccination, it is necessary to consult a neurologist, since this is possible due to previous organic damage to the nervous system, for some reason not detected before vaccination.

An allergy after the DPT vaccination is also possible, which manifests itself as:

• Quincke's edema,
• hives,

B) anaphylactic shock - appears almost immediately after the DPT injection, approximately after 20-30 minutes. Accordingly, the child should be under medical supervision for at least half an hour after the injection.

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Allergy to Mantoux test

Before we say whether an allergy is possible after a Mantoux test, we should understand what a Mantoux test is in general.

The Mantoux vaccine is intended for the prophylactic detection of tuberculosis in all children. It can be attributed to a kind of immunological test that reliably shows the presence or absence of tuberculosis infection in the body.

If a child develops an allergy after the Mantoux test, then:

• the most important thing is to understand the reason for the positive reaction. It is important to know that a positive reaction is not a fact that the child is sick with tuberculosis. The reaction to Mantoux of a child's body, where a tuberculin test is administered, is of an allergic nature. Accordingly, an allergy that occurs after the Mantoux vaccination should affect the final test result. At the same time, an allergic reaction can be completely different, for example, food, medication or skin,
• The following may be the cause of an allergic reaction:
  • recent illnesses,
  • age-related changes in skin sensitivity,
  • the presence of worms and much more,
• if the adverse reaction to Mantoux increases from year to year, then it is likely that the child was in a region where he could have encountered an open form of tuberculosis. Consultation with a phthisiatrician in this case is mandatory,
• Allergy to the Mantoux test appears immediately after vaccination at the injection site. Symptoms of allergy: redness, itching, blisters are possible. Before giving a child (with a possible allergy to the vaccine) a Mantoux test, it is necessary to warn the doctor about it. And even better - get checked by a phthisiatrician.

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Allergy to hepatitis vaccine

"We can't vaccinate against hepatitis!" Most often, this phrase implies that parents simply don't want their child to be vaccinated against hepatitis. Everyone has their own reasons for this, some "excuse" themselves by saying that the child immediately after birth had "jaundice" - so it's not allowed. But to find out for sure "it's not allowed" or "it's allowed" you need to ask the doctor. Doctors are also not interested in making mistakes, at least for the reason that such actions are criminally punishable. It is clear that any parent is worried about the health of their baby, but the hepatitis vaccination can prevent numerous consequences in the future caused by the hepatitis infection.

Allergy after hepatitis vaccination is a rare occurrence, but is possible in the presence of a food allergy, namely to culinary yeast.

Allergy to diphtheria vaccine

Complications after the diphtheria vaccination may include:

• body temperature exceeding 39ºС,
• redness, enlargement, swelling of 8 cm at the injection site,
• long crying of a child.

The probability of such signs appearing is 1 in several hundred.

In addition to all of the above, an allergy after a diphtheria vaccination is also possible, which manifests itself in the following reactions:

• mild form: skin rash,
• severe form: hoarse voice, anaphylactic shock - appear within 30 minutes (rare cases).

The child after vaccination manipulations should be under the supervision of medical personnel for at least 30 minutes, since the probability of severe allergic reactions occurs precisely during this period of time. And as a result of serious complications such as anaphylactic shock, the child will be provided with timely assistance.

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Allergy to flu shot

Allergy after flu shot or some complications may occur in people who suffer from:

• allergy to chicken eggs because the flu vaccine contains chicken egg proteins,
• colds (ARI) or allergic reactions during the vaccination period. In this case, you must wait 2 weeks after recovery,
• serious complications from previous flu vaccinations, which include: sudden outbreak of the disease, allergies, high fever.

Usually all symptoms go away on their own. But it is still worth seeing a doctor.

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Allergy shot

Immunotherapy includes allergy shots. Their function is aimed at improving the body's ability to resist various infections that contribute to the development of an allergic reaction. They are given to people whose allergies become severe and their duration is at least 3 months per year. Antiallergic vaccinations do not eliminate allergies completely, but strengthen the immune system against allergic manifestations.

The frequency of allergy shots is about 2 months in a row. This process requires systematic visits to the doctor - 2 times a week, since the allergy shot can contribute to the fact that an allergy will appear (if done correctly, an allergic reaction is unlikely) after the shot (which will be discussed below).

The initial dose of the vaccine is minimal, which gradually increases to the required norm. In case of improvement of the condition after vaccination, the frequency of consultation with the doctor is as follows: from 2 to 4 times a week for several years. During the course of treatment, allergic symptoms weaken, and most importantly, they can stop altogether.

What do you need to prepare for these vaccinations?

1. You cannot do sports for 2 hours before and 2 hours after the vaccination. During this period, it is better to limit yourself as much as possible from physical activity, since there is a rush of blood (increased during active movements) to the tissues, and antigens, naturally, penetrate the blood stream at a higher rate.
2. It is important to understand that a vaccination is a medicine, and taking several (some) medicines at the same time can cause an allergy or other side effect. Due to ignorance of such things, the vaccinated person often thinks that he has developed an allergy after the vaccination, and that such vaccination is not suitable for him. Before the vaccination, you should ask the doctor which drugs exactly should not be taken. For example, beta blockers + allergy shot = incompatible things. During pregnancy or if a woman plans to become pregnant in the near future, she should tell the doctor about it.

So, what are the possible consequences of getting an allergy shot?

• Half an hour after the vaccination, a mandatory medical examination is required to determine possible side effects, such as rhinitis, sore throat, general malaise and itching. Such a reaction is possible after leaving the hospital. In this situation, you should return to the place where the vaccination was given,
• Do not panic if local irritation, such as swelling or redness, occurs in the injection area. These symptoms are considered normal and will stop within 8 hours of vaccination.

We all know that there are many types of allergies. Which one does the allergy shot combat?

This type of treatment is quite effective for insect bite allergies. However, there is no data yet on food allergies.

Treatment of allergies after vaccination

Many vaccinations leave their mark, such as DPT - swelling, redness and pain remain at the injection site; BCG - an ulcer forms that takes a long time to heal.

Treatment of any type of vaccination does not require local therapy, since vaccination is a test for the body's reaction to a specific antigen. For example, if a child constantly scratches in the area of the vaccination, it is enough to apply a gauze bandage to this place.

Some people think that the "bump" that appears at the site of the DPT vaccination is an allergy after the vaccination. It happens that this "bump" is painful, and the child may even limp on one leg (if the injection was administered in the thigh). But this is not an allergy, but a normal process that does not require any treatment.

You need to sound the alarm, or more precisely call a doctor or an ambulance, when:

• it is impossible to bring down a child's high temperature,
• the child has a convulsive state or, even worse, loss of consciousness,
• the child has lost his appetite and is restless,
• A purulent abscess formed at the vaccination site.

Prevention of allergies after vaccination

Allergy after vaccination is possible, as we have already found out above, if a person has an allergy to food products (baking yeast, chicken eggs), individual intolerance to certain medications, non-compliance with vaccination conditions. It is possible to avoid possible consequences, but for this you need to know some rules:

1. all the "do's" and "don'ts" before vaccination:
   • Before getting vaccinated, you need to be examined to determine the presence or absence of contraindications to vaccinations,
   • Before starting the vaccination, it is necessary to obtain all the information regarding the injection itself, i.e. contraindications, side effects, combination with medications, precautions, etc. There are cases when it is better to postpone the vaccination to another day due to various circumstances, for example, a slight body temperature and a cold;
2. It is important to properly prepare your child for vaccinations, although most of them do not require special vigilance in this regard:
   1. proper nutrition:
      • It is better not to introduce new food products into the child's diet for two days before the vaccination. Adults should forget about alcohol, at least for 2 days before and after the injection,
      • "breastfed" children should also not learn the taste of new products, including juices. And nursing mothers at this time should also not consume a product unknown to her child, since the introduction of a new ingredient can cause an allergy in the baby, and the mother may think that the child developed an allergy after vaccination,
   2. antihistamines and antipyretics:
      • "Suprastin" or other similar drugs can be taken the day before the injection only if the child suffers from allergies, such as urticaria, asthma, atopic dermatitis. And also if the previous vaccine provoked the formation of severe swelling or redness with painful symptoms,
      • the use of antihistamines must be discussed with a doctor, or more precisely the dosage itself,
      • Antipyretic drugs are not recommended for use as preventive measures. A number of exceptions include children who are prone to febrile seizures. In this case, antipyretic drugs should be taken immediately before and after the vaccine is administered,
      • healthy children are not prescribed antihistamines and antipyretics for prophylaxis, as they interfere with the body's natural reaction to a particular injection;
3. after vaccination:
   • we are always in a hurry, but you can't do that after the vaccine is administered. You have to wait for a while in the medical facility, about 30 minutes,
   • proper care of the child is necessary, which includes monitoring the diet, namely introducing new foods; plenty of fluids, especially if the child has diarrhea, vomiting or fever; bathing the child is possible if he does not have a fever, although it is advisable not to touch the injection site with a washcloth. If we are talking about the Mantoux test, then it is strictly forbidden to wet it until the doctor examines the wound itself,
   • Even if a child develops an allergy after vaccination, he should not be denied walks in the fresh air. If the child or adult's condition is accompanied by a high temperature, then bed rest, taking antipyretic drugs, or better yet, calling a doctor are necessary.