Why does fever appear in a child after vaccination and whether it should be treated?

For many mothers, a child's temperature after vaccination becomes an unpleasant surprise, which, along with rare reports of dangerous complications and deaths of children, causes a negative attitude towards vaccination in general. For parents, the life and health of their beloved baby is above all else. Negativity is caused by anything that makes the child suffer even a little. But is the suffering from high temperature 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 proverb "fight fire with fire" gives remarkable 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. The newborn receives the first vaccinations in 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 over several years after birth, so babies are more vulnerable to pathogens. The only way to make the baby's body defend itself is to provoke it by introducing a safe dose of an infectious agent in the form of weakened or non-living microorganisms and their waste products. Some vaccines are synthesized antigens, and they also aim to activate the immune system.

Vaccination is a non-drug prophylaxis that has some similarities with homeopathic treatment. But the introduction of an 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 a vaccine, but the degree of its expression may vary.

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

An increase in body temperature to 38 degrees is a normal reaction of the body to the introduction of pathogens, which indicates its readiness to fight the infection. Higher rates are rarely observed, most often after the DPT (whole-cell) vaccination - 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 develop much less frequently, and an increase in temperature is the most common of them. An indication of this symptom is in the list of side effects of various vaccines.

Safe reaction or complication?

When figuring out why a child's temperature rises after vaccination, you need to know what reasons can influence the course of post-vaccination reactions and cause post-vaccination complications. More precisely, 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 increase this reaction and cause a predisposition 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 within the framework of the pathogenesis of possible complications.

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

But in addition to the specific composition, vaccines of different manufacture may contain additional components. That is, domestic and some imported immunobiological preparations contain a toxic substance - thimerosal. In itself, it does not cause an increase in temperature, but the effect on the nervous system is destructive. 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 a baby. Nevertheless, many doctors are confident that additives in vaccines 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 (and this is the tendency that can be seen when examining modern children) increase the likelihood of developing both post-vaccination reactions and possible complications. Considering the statistics of the development of specific and non-specific reactions, it can be said that it is with these children that problems usually arise in the form of deterioration in health, an increase in temperature in the child after vaccination, the appearance of irritability, tearfulness, pronounced skin reactions and exacerbation of existing diseases.

The risk of all sorts of inflammatory and neurological complications increases if contraindications to the use of vaccines specific to each drug are not taken into account. This most often happens because the child was not professionally examined before vaccination, which has already become the norm.

Some children have a predisposition to convulsive reactions, epileptic seizures, neurological abnormalities, which the vaccine only aggravates, especially if it contains neurotoxic substances.

Other reasons may include: violation of the vaccination regimen, 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, low-quality drugs, as well as vaccines with an expired shelf life.

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 the drugs, there are many other factors that can affect the outcome of the procedure.

However, today vaccination remains the most effective method of combating the spread of dangerous childhood and adult diseases that cause complications much more often than vaccines.

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

Symptoms of post-vaccination reactions and complications

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

A child's temperature of 39 or higher 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 antipyretics right away. If antipyretics do not give the expected effect or after 3 days the thermoregulation has not returned to normal, it is necessary to consult a doctor, otherwise complications cannot be avoided.

Parents often ask why a child's hands and feet are cold when the temperature is high. This is a special type of fever caused by vascular spasm. Many of the baby's systems are formed over several years after birth, so they can fail under 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 the spasm of small vessels increases the risk of febrile seizures if the temperature is not brought down. But it also does not allow this to be done, even despite taking antipyretics. In such a situation, there are two options: give the child an antispasmodic (care must be taken, given the child's low weight) or immerse the baby's arms and legs in warm water. The water will have a relaxing effect and blood circulation will quickly be restored.

A child's cough without fever after vaccination is not a specific symptom of a post-vaccination reaction. It occurs infrequently and for various reasons, so it is very important to pay attention to the nature of the symptom. A slight cough may appear in response to a sore throat, which some children experience in response to the introduction of the vaccine, often with a slight runny nose (a mild course of the disease, which the body can usually cope with on its own).

Certain types of vaccines can cause minor rashes, enlarged salivary glands, and in rare cases, short-term diarrhea or nausea (usually with fever due to gastrointestinal problems).

But a strong cough, vomiting, diarrhea and fever in a child after vaccination are already an alarming symptom complex. The phenomenon of intoxication indicates 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 to be a large swelling at the injection site, a severe rash all over the body, difficulty breathing, and any other non-specific symptoms: headaches, dizziness, subfebrile temperature for a long time or fluctuations in thermometer readings.

This also includes 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 baby's behavior (unusual activity, agitation, tearfulness or, conversely, isolation, unwillingness to communicate, inadequate response to touch and affection).

Vaccinations and symptoms

During life, especially at the very beginning, a person has to undergo more than one vaccination to protect themselves from dangerous infections. At the same time, the body's reaction to different vaccines and drugs from different manufacturers can differ significantly. Much depends on the composition of the vaccine: the type of infectious agent, its presence and activity.

Some symptoms are quite predictable, others are unpredictable, especially since there is often an individual reaction associated with a hereditary predisposition or allergy, the state of the body at the time of the vaccine administration. In any case, over many years of vaccination practice, doctors have determined 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 normal variant, and when it is worth worrying:

Polio vaccines

Among all the developed biopreparations, the most popular today is the oral vaccine OPV based on a weakened virus, used all over the world. Although there are other types of vaccines. So, children from 3 months of age are first given a drug with an inactivated virus, and then a little later with a live one.

An oral vaccine is a drug that is dripped into the child's mouth instead of a traditional injection. With this method of administration, there is no talk of local reactions, i.e. in the absence of a pronounced allergy to waste products, there is no redness or swelling of the tissues. This vaccine is easily 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 stool consistency and frequency of bowel movements, which is not dangerous, but requires attention from doctors.

A child's temperature after vaccination is rare, and then within the range of 37-37.5 degrees. An increase in temperature to 38 degrees and above is observed in only 1% of children, which does not cause particular 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 have different quality compositions, which explains the discrepancies in the figures characterizing the frequency of post-vaccination reactions.

The first vaccination is carried out in the maternity hospital, after which the vaccine is administered twice more. Revaccination is subsequently carried out. The appearance of pain, swelling and redness at the injection site, and a slight increase in temperature are considered normal.

In 1-6% of small children, the temperature can rise above 38 degrees. But if it lasts less than 2 days, there is no need to worry. This is only an indicator that the body is fighting the infection. Hyperthermia over 3 days, even in the case of low thermometer readings, should be alarming, as should the appearance of other unusual symptoms. Systemic reactions in the form of malaise, irritability, etc., are usually not typical for hepatitis vaccination.

Measles vaccines

Measles is a severe infectious disease that primarily affects 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 with vaccinations, which are given to children twice after the child turns 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 the MMR complex vaccination, which is effective against 3 viral diseases at once: measles, rubella and mumps.

Today, the most popular drug in Ukraine is the Belgian live vaccine "Priorix". The list of side effects of the drug 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 should be noted that measles vaccination is allowed even with minor hyperthermia associated with a mild cold. Temperature in a child after vaccination, directly related to vaccination, is very rare and requires the attention of specialists if it remains high for more than 2-3 days in combination with other symptoms of malaise. The appearance of a runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhea, measles-like rashes and other side effects, as a rule, disappear on their own within a few days after their appearance.

Rubella vaccines

Rubella is a viral infection, which, like measles, is characterized by fever and 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 to avoid infection and the spread of the infection.

In the case of rubella, we may be talking 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) vaccine, but can also be administered independently (Indian, Croatian, and French vaccines). The latter is recommended for girls aged 12-13, which should protect expectant mothers from infection during pregnancy.

In most cases, the introduction of vaccines does not cause any unusual reactions in children. However, a slight increase in temperature, enlarged lymph nodes and a rash on the body a few days after the introduction of the vaccine cannot be ruled out. If the temperature rises to critical values, this may indicate that the child was already unwell at the time of vaccination.

Pneumococcal vaccines

Pneumococci are the most common pathogens of otitis (inflammation of the middle ear), bronchitis, meningitis and pneumonia, which are most dangerous in childhood. That is why the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine 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.

The most common vaccine used to prevent pneumococcal infection is Prevenar, which is produced in the USA, Ireland, and Russia. It is effective against several serotypes of the infection, as indicated by the number after the name of the drug. Temperature from pneumococcal vaccination is considered a common side effect, which is recorded in 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 rash. Sometimes after vaccination, a child becomes capricious, whiny, convulsions are possible, including febrile ones.

Diphtheria vaccines

Diphtheria is a dangerous infectious disease caused by the diphtheria bacillus. Most often it affects the oropharynx. In children, the toxin secreted by the bacilli often causes a dangerous complication - croup, i.e. swelling and blockage of the respiratory tract with films. In this case, antibiotic therapy does not give good results, and only antidiphtheria serum helps save the baby.

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

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

Such complex vaccines, when several pathogens or toxoids are introduced into the child's body at the same time (and vaccination begins at 1 year of age (3 doses), then at 6 and 14 years), place a heavy burden on the immune system. Therefore, it is not surprising that they cause a child's temperature after vaccination, skin rashes, local (hardening 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 regular antipyretics. If it rises above 38 degrees, but antipyretics do not provide the expected relief, it is better to consult 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, since many parents do not understand the difference between diagnostic and preventive vaccination. BCG is one of the first preventive vaccinations given to a child in the first days of his life. In the absence of contraindications, vaccination is carried out on the 4th-5th day from the baby's birth. Otherwise, the vaccination day is postponed to a later date. If the child has not been vaccinated before 2 months, the vaccination is done at a later date 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. At least 3 and no more than 14 days should pass between vaccinations. The Mantoux test is carried out annually until the age of 14, because BCG does not provide 100% protection against tuberculosis.

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

If the scar does not heal within 5-6 months, suppuration appears and the body temperature rises, this is already a reason to contact a doctor. Normally, the temperature of a child after BCG vaccination does not rise significantly 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. Although this is a diagnostic vaccination, the reaction to the subcutaneous injection of bacterial extract can be quite serious even in the absence of pronounced local symptoms. The child may have a fever, irritation, lethargy, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and a deterioration in 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.

This virus is extremely dangerous for humans, often leading to death, so in the absence of preventive vaccinations, when in contact with a sick animal, it is very important to contact a medical institution as soon as possible. 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 vulnerability, are often attacked by animals, often strays. When visiting a medical institution, such children are given a series of vaccinations: immediately after the visit, on the 3rd and 7th day. If the animal's status is unknown, the vaccination is repeated on the 30th and 90th day.

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

Vaccinations against ticks

This is another type of optional vaccination, which, however, can prevent dangerous consequences of bites of small parasites, which spoil spring-summer recreation in nature. In children, tick bites often cause severe inflammation of the membranes of the brain, which manifests itself in muscle and headaches, aching joints, fever, vomiting, lethargy, cerebral edema. The disease can be treated if you seek help immediately. But given the certain risk, it is still more rational to resort to preventive vaccination if the child will spend a lot of time outdoors.

Vaccination should be done in advance, about a month before going out into nature. The immunity developed with its help lasts for 3 years, during which the baby will either not become infected with an insect bite or will suffer the disease in a mild form. This significantly reduces the risk of dangerous complications and death of the child.

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

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

Complications and consequences

At some point, any parent faces a choice: to vaccinate their child or hope that if the child gets sick, he or she will be able to bear it in a mild form? The fact is that none of the vaccines provide full protection against dangerous diseases. The drugs only reduce the risk of infection, and if it has occurred, they help 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 the type of infectious agent that the body has encountered.

Today, more and more new vaccine-resistant strains of pathogens are emerging that can cause serious illnesses even in vaccinated children. And yet, vaccination remains a real chance to protect your child from dangerous infections that can only be dealt with by a strong immune system, which young children cannot boast of. The baby's immune system is formed over several years after birth, which makes children 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 large load on the immune system. After all, such immunity is developed forcibly, by introducing a provoking component (and in complex vaccines there are several of them). It is clear that the body's reaction will definitely be there, but it is different for different children, and it is very difficult to predict it.

Because of the danger of side effects and possible complications after vaccination, many parents have a negative attitude towards this type of prevention, hoping that maybe it will pass, and not realizing all the dangers of the complications that are hidden by 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 the treatment.

Isolated cases of children dying or developing mental disorders after vaccination turned out to be related to vaccination only indirectly upon closer examination. There were violations during vaccination: severe anaphylactic reactions, when the child was not observed by specialists for several minutes after vaccination, contraindications were not taken into account, examination was not conducted on the eve of vaccination, a low-quality vaccine was used. Some children had a genetic predisposition to autistic reactions, which could also manifest in response to another irritant.

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

A child's temperature after vaccination is just the body's reaction to the introduction of foreign substances. This reaction itself is not scary and is considered completely justified and adequate up to certain values. The main thing is that the temperature does not reach critical values and does not last too long, causing complications to the heart.

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, which the immune system should cope with without consequences. If the temperature is high and does not go down, then not everything is so smooth in the body, the child needs additional examination and treatment.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic examination of young patients is a mandatory procedure that must precede any vaccination. This can reduce the risk of post-vaccination reactions and complications, most of which are associated with the child's acute or chronic somatic disease. Some vaccines can cause an exacerbation of chronic pathologies or shorten the incubation period of latent acute diseases that gain new momentum in the post-vaccination period.

In real life, doctors at children's institutions limit themselves to a superficial examination of the child. In the absence of fever, runny nose, and sore throat, the child is considered healthy. Only those children who are registered with blood pathologies need to undergo tests.

Ideally, it would be a good idea to carefully study the medical record of the little patient, because vaccinations cannot be given to children who have recently suffered from infectious or severe somatic diseases. After a severe acute respiratory viral infection, the interval should be at least 2 weeks, and for more serious infections (bronchitis, meningitis, pneumonia, etc.) – at least 1 month. By limiting themselves to a conversation with the parents, the doctor risks 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 in any way. It is quite difficult to detect the disease at this stage, so in some babies it is detected after the vaccine has been administered. This does not mean that it was the vaccine that provoked the disease.

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

Instrumental diagnostics are performed only if there are complications in vital organs: heart, kidneys, joints, brain. An encephalogram of the brain, a cardiogram of the heart, CT or MRI, ultrasound examination may be prescribed.

Differential diagnostics of post-vaccination reactions is considered very difficult. The fact is that they can normally appear at different times depending on the vaccine administered. Thus, when vaccinated with DPT or other live vaccines, symptoms of malaise that appear 3 days after the vaccine is administered are no longer considered to be related to the vaccination. On the other hand, even in the first days after vaccination, one cannot exclude the appearance of symptoms of a latent disease that can overlap with post-vaccination reactions.

When introducing 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 the vaccination. But hyperthermia in the specified interval is considered a post-vaccination reaction, i.e. associated with the introduction of the drug. At the same time, it cannot be ruled out 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, one can suspect the addition of ARVI in the child.

In establishing a differential diagnosis, laboratory tests play a major role, in particular general blood and urine tests. 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 seizures, which are also associated with the child's existing health problems.

Virological testing of urine, saliva and blood is necessary to differentiate the pathogen/pathogens of the disease (those against which vaccination is carried out, resistant strains or others: herpes viruses, enteroviruses, etc.). Stool testing allows for the detection of enteroviruses and the polio virus.

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

How to bring down a fever after vaccination?

In the first years of 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 organism to cope with. But the forced 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, including a high temperature in a child after vaccination.

Considering that different vaccinations have their own characteristics 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 specifically about possible reactions after vaccinations, we understand that the child is healthy, the increase in temperature is not caused by an illness, and therefore there is nothing to worry about. Why bring down the temperature, which 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 the indicators up to 38-38.5 degrees normally, then higher figures require certain actions from adults. At a temperature of 39-40 degrees, the blood becomes thicker, and it becomes difficult for the heart to pump it. But after vaccination, a situation may arise when you simply cannot do without antipyretics and cooling procedures 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 figures. In their opinion, even subfebrile temperature approaching 37.5-38 degrees is dangerous for infants under 3 months. For older children, it is worth paying attention not only to the thermometer readings, but also to the child's condition. If the baby becomes lethargic or capricious at 38 degrees, do not delay taking antipyretic drugs, 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 yet a reason to panic. It is important to pay attention to other suspicious symptoms: non-specific rash, shortness of breath, bowel disorders, vomiting, bluish tint of the skin at the injection site, etc. In their absence, it is enough to take measures to reduce the body temperature, which usually lasts no more than 3 days.

When administering the DPT vaccine and anti-polio drugs, it is important to understand that hyperthermia that appears 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 what to do if a child has a fever after vaccination. The main thing is not to panic, but to try to understand the situation: how high is the fever, on what days did it appear and how long does it last, are there any other alarming symptoms?

Some parents, fearing that their baby may develop a fever, give him antipyretic drugs in advance. Most pediatricians do not share this point of 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 additional examination and treatment are required. Here, it is necessary to fight not the temperature as a reaction of the body, but the pathogens of the disease.

In addition, post-vaccination fever is not as scary as some allergic reactions, especially anaphylactic reactions. Therefore, it is better not to rush home after vaccination, but to wait half an hour in a medical facility, where, if necessary, the child can receive 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's temperature can rise and at what time, what drugs and procedures will help normalize the child's body temperature.

You can bring down the temperature after vaccination only if you are sure that it is not related to the disease, i.e. there are no other symptoms of illness. To combat hyperthermia, doctors recommend using antipyretic drugs for children (antipyretics and NSAIDs). Most often, paracetamol (Paracetamol, Panadol, Calpol, Efferalgan) and ibuprofen (Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Motrin) are recommended for children. For young children, the preferred forms of these drugs are syrup or rectal suppositories.

Hyperthermia treatment can be started not with medications, but with effective procedures for the temperature: wiping the baby's body with water, wrapping it in a wet sheet, blowing with a fan, drinking plenty of fluids. If such treatment does not give results, seek help from medications or use complex procedures.

Stronger anti-fever medications from the NSAID category (for example, nimesulide preparations) or analgin (in case of NSAID intolerance) should be prescribed by a doctor if the treatment has not yielded results. The antipyretic "Aspirin" (acetylsalicylic acid), popular among adults, is not suitable for treating children, no matter in what form and under what name it is produced.

Medicines

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

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

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

The drug is approved for use from 6 months. Children under 2 years old should be given 5 ml of the drug per dose. Children 2-4 years old - 7.5 ml, 4-8 years - 10 ml, 8-10 years - 15 ml, etc. A single dose should not exceed 60 mg of paracetamol per 1 kg of the 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 liver and kidney dysfunction, blood diseases, and sugar metabolism disorders.

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 encounter allergic rashes on the skin, 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 drug does not contain sugar or sweeteners, it has very few contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug and other NSAIDs and severe liver and kidney dysfunction.

Both forms of the drug are approved for use from 3 months. The suspension is given to babies in the first year of life 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 aged 6-12 years 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 children under 3 years of age. One suppository is inserted into the rectum at a time. The procedure can be repeated no more than 3 times a day with an interval of at least 4 hours.

With the doctor's permission, the drug can be used, if necessary, to treat children under 3 months. The duration of administration without consulting a specialist in any case should not exceed 3 days.

Side effects of the drug make themselves known extremely rarely in the form of an allergic skin rash.

"Calpol" is a soft pink suspension with strawberry aroma 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

If the body temperature rises after vaccination, children under six months are recommended to be given 2.5 ml of the drug 1-2 times a day at intervals 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 kg of weight per day (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 drug should be at least 6 hours.

Suppositories are inserted into the rectum of babies under 9 months, 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, gastric and cerebrovascular bleeding in the anamnesis, severe liver, kidney, heart disease, blood clotting disorder. The drug is not prescribed to children 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, dyspeptic symptoms, allergic and anaphylactic reactions, headaches. Other symptoms were very rare.

The children's drug "Motrin" based on ibuprofen is used in the same way as 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. For fever due to vaccination, the recommended dose is 2.5 ml of suspension twice a day at intervals of 6 hours.

Folk remedies

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

It is worth remembering about folk remedies also if the effect of taking medications is insufficient. Complex treatment helps to reduce the dosage of medications and still get a good effect.

What methods have people used since ancient times to reduce fever and can they be used to treat children? The most common method of combating hyperthermia is cold compresses and wiping the baby's body with water. However, 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 to the forehead and areas of heavy sweating (armpits and groin). You can also wipe the baby's palms and feet with a damp towel.

For infants, good methods for combating fever include wrapping them in a damp sheet and cooling the air with a fan (it should not be directed at the child).

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

Herbal treatment also helps in the fight against post-vaccination fever. A chamomile enema can bring down the temperature in children and adults. A saline solution (1 tbsp. per 1 liter of water at room temperature) is also used for the same purposes. However, it is not recommended to use such treatment often, so as not to disrupt the intestinal microflora.

When a child has a temperature, you need to make sure that he drinks more liquid, and it is better if these are diaphoretic teas. Particularly popular in this regard are infusions of raspberry leaves, linden blossom, currant leaves and berries, cranberries.

Fruits and berries with a high content of vitamin C help fight hyperthermia: black currant, rose hips, sea buckthorn, oranges, kiwi, rowan, 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 within 18-20 degrees). The room should be regularly ventilated. While the temperature is high, it is better to refrain from long walks and bathing.

Homeopathy

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

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

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

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

In any case, the doctor should select the drug, and the parents’ task is to clearly explain what the increase in temperature is presumably associated with and what additional symptoms they observed in their child.

Prevention

An important measure for preventing adverse reactions is careful selection of preparations for vaccination and the exclusion 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 vaccine dose.

Medical personnel must carefully select children for vaccination and take care of patronage in the post-vaccination period. Children weakened by frequent illnesses are pre-prescribed general strengthening procedures and antiviral drugs.

It is important for parents to pay attention to the baby's condition before vaccination, and tell the doctor about any unusual symptoms. Do not rush to give your child antipyretic drugs for preventive purposes. This may ease the baby's condition, 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

Predicting whether a child will develop a fever after vaccination and what it will be associated with is a thankless task. However, it is worth paying special attention to children who are prone to allergic diseases, have chronic diseases that can worsen as a result of the introduction of pathogens or their toxins, or have immunity weakened by diseases. There are a number of contraindications to vaccination, taking into account which you can avoid complications:

• low weight of the child, less than 2.5 kg with BCG vaccination,
• negative vaccination experience 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 a 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 vaccinations),
• severe allergic reactions to protein and other components that may be part of 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 it is necessary to take into account the fact that most often mental illnesses worsen during DPT vaccination),

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

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

Taking these contraindications into account, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of developing post-vaccination complications with or without a strong increase in temperature.

A child's temperature after vaccination may rise for various reasons. If it is just a post-vaccination reaction, which doctors and instructions for drugs warn about, the prognosis is favorable. Symptoms quickly disappear without consequences, the fever is easily brought down with 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 experiences vomiting, headaches, loss of appetite, other systemic and local manifestations (for example, inflammation and suppuration of the wound), the prognosis depends on the timeliness of assistance to the baby and the characteristics of the small organism.