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

Temperature in a child after vaccination is an unpleasant surprise for many mothers, 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 first and foremost. Anything that makes the child suffer at least a little bit causes negativity. But is the suffering from fever and swelling at the vaccine 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 an immunization?

Today, one of the most effective methods of preventing many serious diseases is vaccination. This is exactly the case when the saying "you can beat the wedge out of the wedge" gives remarkable results, saving hundreds and thousands of lives. Most immunizations are done in childhood, because the immunity formed in the early period protects the baby for many years. A newborn baby receives its first immunizations in the maternity hospital.

Vaccination is a specific way to keep our children safe from serious illnesses by stimulating the body to fight infection. The formation and development of a child's immune system occurs within a few years after birth, so babies are more vulnerable to pathogens. The only way to make the crumb'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 products of their vital activity. Some vaccines are synthesized antigens, and they also aim to activate the immune system.

Vaccination is a drug-free prophylaxis that bears some resemblance to homeopathic treatment. But the introduction of an infection in any form or quantity into the body is usually not without a trace. There is always a response to the introduction of vaccines, but the degree of its severity may be different.

Some babies with more or less stable immune systems do not experience discomfort after vaccinations. But a slight fever in the child after vaccination, swelling and redness at the injection site are also normal. Worse, if the temperature readings fall, indicating weak immunity or a weakened state of the body. If a low temperature after vaccination in a child is kept for more than 2 days or is accompanied by other suspicious symptoms, it is already a reason to consult a doctor, and in case of a strong decrease in thermometer readings, 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 values are rarely noted, most often after vaccination with DPT (whole-cell) - a complex vaccine against 3 dangerous, difficult to treat diseases: pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus.

Inflammation, swelling, hyperthermia, and redness are all local responses of our immune system. Systemic reactions to vaccines are much less common, and fever is the most common. This symptom is listed in the list of side effects of different vaccines.

Is it a safe reaction or a complication?

When considering why a child has a fever after vaccination, it is necessary to know what causes can affect the course of postvaccinal reactions and cause postvaccinal complications. More precisely, the cause is always the same - the introduction of the vaccine and the body's reaction to it. But there are specific factors that can increase this reaction and predispose you to more severe reactions that become complications.

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

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

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

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

Allergic predisposition and the presence of chronic diseases since infancy (which is the trend in modern children) increase the likelihood of post-vaccine reactions and possible complications. Considering the statistics of development of specific and non-specific reactions, we can say that it is these children who usually have problems in the form of deterioration of health, fever in the child after vaccination, irritability, tearfulness, pronounced skin reactions and exacerbation of existing diseases.

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

Some children have a predisposition to seizure reactions, epileptic seizures, and neurological abnormalities that the vaccine only exacerbates, especially if it contains neurotoxic substances.

Other causes may include: violation of the vaccination regimen, individual characteristics of the child's body (e.g., genetic abnormalities that can cause autism under certain conditions), violations during vaccine production, storage and transportation, poor-quality preparations, and 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 our vaccines 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 controlling the spread of dangerous childhood and adult diseases that cause complications far more often than vaccines.

Clearly, this statement will not ease the pain of parents whose children became disabled, autistic, or left our world forever after being vaccinated. But for many such babies, it was only a matter of time. Autistic tendencies, neurological symptoms, anaphylactic reactions in children at any moment could have been provoked by completely different factors. Another thing is that complications can also occur as a result of improper treatment, if a child has a high fever after vaccination, and parents, educators, or doctors did not pay due attention to it.

Symptoms of postvaccine reactions and complications

So, we have seen that a fever in a child after vaccination in most cases can be regarded as a normal reaction of the body. Temperature up to 38 degrees should not cause any particular concern, because this is how a healthy body reacts to any infection. Further increase in thermometer readings can be caused by both the type of vaccine and the peculiarities of the child's body. However, the possibility of complications cannot be ruled out.

A child with a 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 that the child be given antipyretics immediately. If antipyretics do not give the expected effect or after 3 days, thermoregulation has not returned to normal, it is mandatory to consult a doctor, otherwise complications will not be avoided.

Often parents have a question, why at high temperatures cold hands and feet in the child? This is a special kind of fever, caused by vasospasm. Many systems of the baby are formed within a few years after birth, so at high loads can fail. When the temperature rises sharply, the 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 seizures if the temperature is not brought down. But it also does not allow you to do this, even despite the reception of antipyretics. In this situation, there are two options for action: give the child antispasmodics (you need to be careful, given the low weight of the child) or immerse the arms and legs of the baby in warm water. The water will have a relaxing effect and blood circulation will be quickly restored.

Coughing in a child without fever after vaccination is not a specific symptom of postvaccine reaction. It occurs infrequently and for different reasons, so it is important to pay attention to the nature of the symptom. A slight cough may appear in response to a sore throat that appears in some children in response to vaccine administration, often with a slight runny nose (a mild course of illness that the body can usually cope with on its own).

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

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

The first signs of certain violations 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 spikes in thermometer readings.

This can also include low temperature in the child after vaccination, provided that it persists for more than 2-3 days and affects the well-being of the baby, the appearance of seizures without fever, skin sensitivity disorders. Parents should be alerted to sudden changes in the baby's behavior (unusual activity, agitated state, tearfulness or, conversely, withdrawn, unwillingness to communicate, inadequate response to touch and affection).

Vaccinations and symptoms

During the course of a person's life, especially at the beginning of it, he or she has to get more than one vaccination to protect against dangerous infections. At the same time, the body's reaction to different vaccines and preparations 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 due to hereditary predisposition or allergy, the state of the body at the time of vaccine administration. In any case, over many years of practice of vaccination, doctors have defined some 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 about:

Polio vaccines

Among all the biologics developed, the most popular today is the OPV peroral vaccine based on attenuated virus, which is used worldwide. Although there are other types of vaccines. For example, babies from the age of 3 months are first injected with inactivated virus and then later with live virus.

Peroral vaccine is a preparation that is dripped into the child's mouth instead of a traditional injection. With this method of administration, there are no local reactions, i.e. There is no redness or swelling of the tissues if there is no significant allergy to the products. This vaccine is easily tolerated. During the first 2 weeks there are usually no symptoms at all. Because the vaccine components pass through the intestines, where they can begin to multiply, some children may experience changes in stool consistency and frequency of defecation, which is not dangerous but requires medical attention.

Temperature in a child after vaccination is rare, and then within the range of 37-37.5 degrees Celsius. Temperature rise to 38 degrees and above is noted in only 1% of children, which does not cause special concern among specialists, if not accompanied by other suspicious symptoms. The child is prescribed antipyretics and plenty of water.

Hepatitis vaccines

These are vaccinations against hepatitis B, which destroys liver cells. These vaccines are produced by different manufacturers and do not have the same quality composition, which explains the discrepancies in the figures characterizing the incidence of post-vaccine reactions.

The first vaccination is given in the maternity hospital, after which the vaccine is repeated two more times. Subsequently, revaccination is carried out. The appearance of pain, swelling and redness at the site of vaccine administration, and a slight rise in temperature are considered normal.

In 1-6% of young children, the temperature may rise above 38 degrees Celsius. 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 over 3 days, even in the case of small thermometer readings, should alarm, as well as the appearance of other unusual symptoms. Systemic reactions in the form of malaise, irritability, etc., are not usually characteristic of hepatitis vaccination.

Measles vaccines

Measles is a severe infectious disease with predominant damage to the nervous system. Despite the fact that the disease has been known to mankind for many decades, there are still no effective drugs for its treatment. The only way to protect yourself from the disease is prevention through vaccinations, which are done to children 2 times after the child is 1 year old and in 6-7 years (revaccination), which provides persistent immunity to the causative agents of the disease. The interval between vaccinations is at least 1 month.

The measles vaccine is part of the Comprehensive Measles Vaccination, which is effective against 3 viral diseases at once: measles, rubella and mumps.

Today, the most popular vaccine 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 to be a passing reaction of the body that does not require serious treatment.

The second most popular preparation is the live vaccine M-M-R-II. Its instructions also mention the possibility of fever and other side effects, but they are more of an unfortunate exception in children. Severe reactions are extremely rare, and their association with vaccine administration remains doubtful.

It should be said that measles vaccination is allowed even in case of 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 stays at a high level for more than 2-3 days in combination with other symptoms of malaise. Appearing runny nose, deterioration of appetite, diarrhea, rash-like rashes and other side effects, as a rule, disappear on their own in a few days after the appearance.

Rubella vaccines

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

In the case of rubella, there may be several types of vaccines from different countries (India, Croatia, Belgium, etc.). Rubella vaccine is part of the comprehensive measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination, but can also be administered alone (Indian, Croatian and French vaccines). The latter is recommended for girls 12-13 years old, which should protect future mothers from infection during pregnancy.

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

Vaccines for pneumococcal infection

Pneumococci are the most frequent causative agents of otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear), bronchitis, meningitis and pneumonia, which are most dangerous in children. 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 of age is necessary to consolidate the effect.

Most often for the prevention of pneumococcal infection is used vaccine "Prevenar", which is produced in the United States, Ireland, Russia. It is effective against several serotypes of infection at once, as indicated by the number after the name of the drug. Temperature from pneumococcal vaccination is considered a frequent side effect, which is registered in more than 1 out of 10 patients. Often the thermometer column reaches the mark of 39 degrees and higher, combined with the appearance of red painful seals in the place of vaccination, vomiting, diarrhea, rash. Sometimes the child after vaccination becomes cranky, tearful, seizures are possible, including febrile.

Diphtheria vaccines

Diphtheria is a dangerous infectious disease caused by the diphtheria bacillus. It most often affects the oropharynx. In children, the toxin released by 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 save the baby helps only antidiphtheria serum.

Vaccination is the best way to protect your child from a very dangerous disease. In this case, protection against diphtheria is combined with prevention of other dangerous diseases: tetanus, whooping cough, polio.

Until recently, the most common comprehensive diphtheria vaccine was Russian-made DPT, which also protects against tetanus and pertussis. Later, they began to pay attention to imported analogs, such as the French preparation Pentaxim, which is an improved version of DPT. This is a 5-component vaccine that also reduces the risk of poliomyelitis and Haemophilus influenzae in young children.

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

Usually, fever after vaccination can be easily brought down with common antipyretics. If it rises above 38 degrees, but antipyretics do not give the expected relief, it is better to consult a doctor. But the ambulance should be called if the child immediately after the vaccination had a pronounced reaction in the form of nausea and vomiting, swelling, signs of allergic or anaphylactic reaction.

Vaccinations against tuberculosis

This is one of the most controversial issues, as 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 life. If there are no contraindications, vaccination is carried out on the 4th or 5th day of the baby's birth. Otherwise, the day of immunization is postponed to a later date. If the child has not been vaccinated before 2 months of age, the vaccination is carried out later after a Mantoux test, which is considered a diagnostic vaccination. If the Mantoux reaction is negative, the child is given a prophylactic vaccination. At the age of 7, revaccination is carried out, which also requires a preliminary Mantoux test. Between vaccinations should be at least 3 and no more than 14 days. Mantoux test is performed annually until the age of 14, because BCG does not give 100% protection against tuberculosis.

BCG causes redness, pain and swelling at the injection site in 90-95% of cases, but there are usually no systemic reactions. In most cases, a specific scar forms at the site of the wound, which takes several months to heal (usually 1-3 months).

If the scar does not heal within 5-6 months, suppuration appears and body temperature rises, it is already a reason to consult a doctor. Normally, the temperature of a child after BCG vaccination does not rise significantly neither during the newborn period nor during revaccination.

The Mantoux test is the body's reaction to the injection of tuberculin. It is determined by the size of a lump formed at the injection site. Although it is a diagnostic vaccination, the reaction to subcutaneous injection of the bacterial extract can be quite serious even in the absence of pronounced local symptoms. The child may have fever, irritation, lethargy, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, deterioration of appetite and sleep. All these symptoms require the attention of a specialist.

Rabies vaccinations

This vaccination is not included in the officially approved vaccination calendar. Prophylactic vaccination is only given to people who come into contact with stray animals with a potential risk of rabies virus infection.

For humans, this virus is extremely dangerous and often fatal, so in the absence of prophylactic vaccinations in case of contact with a sick animal, it is very important to contact a medical facility as soon as possible. If there was a bite, not later than 3 days after the bite, if the saliva of a sick animal got on the skin, not later than 14 days.

Young children, because of their inquisitive nature and vulnerability, are often attacked by animals, often stray animals. These children receive a series of vaccinations immediately after treatment, on days 3 and 7. If the status of the animal is unknown, the vaccination is repeated on days 30 and 90.

There are no contraindications to this vaccination, because it is a real and 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 (weakness, headache, increased body temperature) are also possible. These reactions are not dangerous. The complications of vaccination include anaphylactic shock, serum sickness, and neurological disorders.

Tick vaccinations

This is another type of optional vaccination, which, nevertheless, can prevent the dangerous consequences of small parasite bites that mar spring and summer vacations in nature. In children, tick bites often cause severe inflammation of the brain membranes, which is manifested by muscle and headaches, joint pain, fever and fever, vomiting, lethargy, brain swelling. The disease is treatable if you immediately seek help. 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 carried out in advance, about a month before going outdoors. In this case, the immunity developed with its help is enough for 3 years, during which the baby either will not be infected by an insect bite, or will suffer from the disease in a mild form. 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 vaccination, it can cause side effects. Local reactions in the form of redness and swelling at the injection site, diarrhea, muscle pain, increased heart rate, increased lymph nodes, a slight increase in temperature (up to 38 degrees Celsius), nausea, which pass within a couple of days, are considered non-dangerous. In case of rash and runny nose, indicating an allergic reaction, antihistamines are recommended.

But severe fever in a child after vaccination (above 38.5 degrees Celsius), seizures, Quincke's edema, heart malfunctions and joint disorders are considered serious complications, which are often associated with individual characteristics of the body, existing diseases or failure to comply with the doctor's recommendations on vaccination. The vaccine itself cannot cause serious illness because it contains killed virus, regardless of the manufacturer.

Complications and consequences

Any parent at some point faces a choice: to vaccinate the child or hope that in case of illness the baby will be able to bear it in a mild form? The fact is that none of the vaccines does not give full protection against dangerous diseases. Drugs only reduce the risk of infection, and if it happened, help to ease the course of the disease. After all, the purpose of vaccination is to develop a durable immunity against pathogens, and how strong it will be depends on individual characteristics and the type of infectious agent with which the body has encountered.

Today, there are more and more new vaccine-resistant strains of pathogens that can cause serious illnesses even in vaccinated children. Still, 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. A baby's immune system is formed within a few years after birth, which makes babies vulnerable to real, albeit imperceptible to the naked eye, danger.

The formation of specific immune cells responsible for adequate defense of the body in case of contact with a particular pathogen is a complex process involving a great strain on the immune system. After all, such immunity is produced forcibly, by introducing a provoking component (and in complex vaccines there are several of them). It is clear that the body will definitely react, but it varies from child to child, and it is very difficult to predict it.

Because of the danger of adverse reactions and possible complications after vaccination, many parents have a negative attitude towards this kind of prevention, counting on the hope that it will be safe and not realizing all the dangers of complications that carry such serious diseases as diphtheria, measles, mumps (especially for boys), pneumonia, meningitis, encephalitis and so on. Some of these diseases are deadly and have already claimed many children's lives despite treatment.

The isolated cases of children dying or developing mental disorders after vaccination, when scrutinized, were only indirectly related to vaccination. There were irregularities during vaccination: severe anaphylactic reactions when the child was not observed by specialists within minutes after vaccination, contraindications were not taken into account, no examination was carried out before vaccination, and poor-quality vaccine was used. Some children have a genetic predisposition to autistic reactions, which can also occur in response to another stimulus.

Doctors consider vaccination to be a justified risk, because by vaccinating one child, we protect all the people he or she comes into contact with. And everyone can minimize complications after vaccination by examining the child before vaccination, monitoring the child after vaccination, and preferring only high-quality products with a low rate of side effects.

Temperature in a child after vaccination is just a reaction of the body to the introduction of foreign substances. In itself, this reaction is not terrible and up to certain values is considered quite justified and adequate. 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 and whether it is able to fight it. After all, vaccines contain a safe amount of dead or live pathogens that the immune system should be able to handle without consequences. If the temperature is high and does not go down, it means that everything is not so smooth in the body, the child needs additional examination and treatment.

Diagnosis

Diagnostic testing of young patients is a mandatory procedure that must precede any vaccination. In this way, the risk of post-vaccine reactions and complications, most of which are related to the child's acute or chronic somatic disease, can be reduced. Some vaccines can exacerbate chronic diseases or shorten the incubation period of latent acute diseases, which gain 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 red 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 review the medical records of a young patient, as vaccinations should not be given to children who have recently suffered from infectious or severe somatic diseases. After a severe acute respiratory infection, the interval should be at least 2 weeks, in more serious infections (bronchitis, meningitis, pneumonia, etc.) - at least 1 month. Limiting the conversation with parents, the doctor risks prescribing vaccination to a weakened child, which is fraught with complications.

Every disease has an incubation period, during which the infection does not manifest itself in any way. It is difficult to detect the disease at this stage, so some babies get the disease after the vaccine has been administered. This does not mean that it was the vaccine that caused the disease.

If a child has a fever and other pathological symptoms after vaccination, which last for several days and are not well treated with the usual drugs, it is necessary to conduct additional examination to identify the cause of such a reaction. In this case, the baby can be prescribed blood and urine tests, which will show an increase in the number of leukocytes and help to determine the type of the causative agent of the disease. Much attention is paid by the doctor to a conversation with the child's parents, helping to clarify symptoms, providing information about previous reactions of the baby's body to drugs and vaccines, transferred diseases that are not included in the medical record.

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

The differential diagnosis of postvaccine 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, which appeared 3 days after the introduction of the vaccine, are not considered as associated with vaccination. On the other hand, even in the first days after vaccination, symptoms of latent illness that may overlap with post-vaccination reactions cannot be ruled out.

In contrast, when administered with PDA vaccines, a fever in the child after vaccination in the first 4-5 days or after 2 weeks is considered an unrelated symptom. But hyperthermia in this interval is considered a postvaccinal reaction, i.e., related to the administration of the drug. At the same time, we cannot exclude the possibility that the same acute respiratory viral infection may occur in the midst of a measles reaction to vaccination. If symptoms of illness persist 14 days after vaccine administration, an acute respiratory infection in the child can be suspected.

In the differential diagnosis, laboratory tests, in particular the general blood and urine tests, play an important role. If they remain unchanged, we are talking about postvaccinal complications, but signs of 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 health problems.

Virological examination of urine, saliva and blood is necessary to differentiate the causative agent(s) of the disease (those against which vaccination is carried out, resistant strains or others: herpes viruses, enteroviruses, etc.). Stool testing can detect enteroviruses and poliomyelitis virus.

Depending on the presumed diagnosis, additional instrumental studies are also prescribed: X-ray, ECG, EEG, EchoEG, EMG, brain ultrasound, CT and MRI. Such examination helps to differentiate symptoms of somatic diseases from similar postvaccinal reactions. Without its data and the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships, it is very difficult to understand the safety of vaccines. This is another important reason to scrutinize every case of post-vaccine complications with persistent fever 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, with which it is very difficult for an untrained body to cope. But the forced production of immunity by introducing microscopic doses of the infectious component into the body does not pass without a trace, as evidenced by the presence of postvaccinal reactions, among which is a high fever in a child after vaccination.

Given that different vaccinations have their own characteristics of the course of postvaccinal reactions, as well as the possibility of various complications, the question of when, how and whether it is necessary to reduce 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, fever is not caused by disease, and therefore there is nothing to worry about. So why should we bring down the temperature, which is necessary to fight pathogens?

But on the other hand, high temperature is a certain load on the cardiovascular system, and if the figures up to 38-38.5 degrees the child tolerates normally, then higher figures 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 distill it. And after the vaccination can occur and such a situation when without antipyretics and cooling procedures simply can not do without, 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, infants up to 3 months is dangerous even subfebrile temperature approaching 37.5-38 degrees. 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 cranky at 38 degrees, you should not delay taking antipyretics, and for children with normal health such haste is not necessary.

If a child has a fever above 38 degrees after vaccination, it is not a reason to panic. It is important to pay attention to other suspicious symptoms: nonspecific rash, shortness of breath, stool disorders, vomiting, livid color of the skin at the vaccine injection site, etc. In the absence of these, it is sufficient to take measures to reduce body temperature, which usually does not last more than 3 days.

When administering DPT vaccine and polio drugs, it is important to realize that hyperthermia 4-5 days after vaccination is considered normal. And the polio vaccine can remind of itself postvaccinal reactions after 2 weeks. In other cases, fever can be expected in the first days after vaccination.

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

Some parents, in fear that the baby may have a fever, give him antipyretics in advance. Most pediatricians do not share this point of view, and they can be understood. After all, the temperature is an indicator that the body is fighting the disease. In addition, hyperthermia outside the control period, indicates that the body is not healthy, and therefore requires additional examination and treatment. 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-vaccine 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 center, where, in case of emergency, the child will be able to provide emergency care. And this time can be spent on consultation with a specialist about what side effects are characteristic of this vaccination, whether the child may have a fever and in what period, what drugs and procedures will help normalize the child's body temperature.

You can only reduce fever after vaccination 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 antipyretics for children (antipyretics and NSAIDs). Most often in children are recommended preparations of paracetamol ("Paracetamol", "Panadol", "Calpol", "Eferalgan") and ibuprofen ("Ibuprofen", "Nurofen", "Motrin"). For infants, the preferred forms of these drugs are syrup or rectal suppositories.

Treatment of hyperthermia can be started not with medications, but effective procedures for temperature: wiping the baby's body with water, wrapping with a wet sheet, blowing with a fan, drinking plenty of water. If such treatment does not yield results, turn for help to medications or use complex procedures.

Stronger fever remedies from the category of NSAIDs (e.g., nimesulide preparations) or analgin (in case of intolerance to NSAIDs) should be prescribed by a doctor if the current treatment has failed. Aspirin" (acetylsalicylic acid), a popular antipyretic among adults, is not suitable for the treatment of children, no matter what form or name it comes in.

Medications

Realizing that fever in a child after vaccination is a normal reaction of a healthy body, you should not rush with drug treatment. But the methods offered by folk and traditional medicine do not always help to cope with hyperthermia, and then willy-nilly we have to resort to pharmacy remedies, especially if the child has shortness of breath, lethargy, drowsiness and other undesirable symptoms against the background of hyperthermia.

Of the first aid remedies for hyperthermia in children, doctors put paracetamol in the first place, as a drug with a minimum of side effects relatively safe even for infants. But tablet paracetamol, which is available in almost every home medicine cabinet, is not the most successful form for the treatment of children. Therefore, pharmacological companies today produce a number of preparations based on paracetamol for children in forms convenient for babies: suspensions, syrups, rectal suppositories.

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

The drug is allowed for use from 6 months of age. Babies up to 2 years of age should be given 5 ml of the drug at 1 administration. Children 2-4 years - 7.5 ml, 4-8 years - 10 ml, 8-10 years - 15 ml, etc. The single dose should not exceed 60 mg of paracetamol per 1 kg of the child's weight, and the frequency of administration - no more than 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 be used only with the permission of a doctor in case of insufficient effect, taking into account drug interactions.

Contraindications to taking the drug are: intolerance to its components, serious liver and kidney disorders, 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 are faced with allergic rashes on the skin, less often there are bronchospasms, GI symptoms (pain, nausea, loose stools), anemia.

"Panadol Baby" - antipyretic and analgesic drug for children, available in the form of suspension and rectal suppositories. Since the remedy does not contain sugar and sweeteners, it has very few contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug and other NSAIDs and severe liver and kidney disorders.

Both forms of the drug are authorized for use from 3 months of age. Suspension for babies of the first year of life is given in the amount of 2.5-5 ml. For children up to 6 years of age, the dose can be increased to 10 ml per administration. Children 6-12 years old can take 10-20 ml per reception. 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 up to 3 years of age. At one time, 1 suppository is inserted 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 doctor's permission, if necessary, the drug can be used for the treatment of children under 3 months of age. The duration of administration without consultation with a specialist in any case should be no more than 3 days.

Side effects of the drug remind of themselves very rarely in the form of allergic skin rash.

"Calpol" is a soft pink strawberry flavored suspension for children from 3 months to 6 years of age. Like "Panadol" with the permission of a doctor can be used to combat post-vaccine hyperthermia in children under 3 months of age.

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 - 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, disorders of glucose metabolism. It is not recommended for babies of the first month of life.

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

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

"Nurofen" is a popular children's drug based on ibuprofen, available as a suspension with a fruit and berry flavor and rectal suppositories. The latter have a gentler effect on the GI tract, so they are recommended for infants. Suspension is recommended for children from 3 months to 12 years, suppositories - from 3 months to 3 years.

Peroral suspension is available with a measuring syringe, which facilitates dosing of the drug. To minimize the irritating effect of NSAIDs on the gastric mucosa, it is better to take the drug with meals.

In case of fever after vaccination, it is recommended to give 2, 5 ml of the drug 1-2 times a day with an interval of 6 hours to children up to six months old. For older children, the dose is calculated based on the fact that per day the child should receive no more than 30 mg of ibuprofen 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 inserted into the rectum one 3 times a day, older children - 4 times a day.

Like most NSAIDs the drug has a decent list of contraindications; hypersensitivity to the drug components and other NSAIDs, combination of bronchial asthma with nasal polyposis, erosive and ulcerative diseases of the GI tract, gastric and cerebrovascular bleeding in the anamnesis, severe liver, kidney, heart diseases, blood clotting disorders. The drug is not prescribed for babies with body weight 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 phenomena, allergic and anaphylactic reactions, headaches. Other symptoms occurred very rarely.

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

Folk treatment

No matter how safe a pharmacy drug may seem in the eyes of doctors, many parents are not in a hurry to use drugs, realizing the harm that medicinal chemistry can cause to a child's body. So why stuff a healthy baby with drugs, if folk medicine offers a lot of safe natural remedies that can help in the situation if the child has a fever after vaccination.

Folk remedies are also worth remembering when the effect of medication is insufficient. Complex treatment helps to reduce the dosage of drugs and get a good effect.

What methods have been used since ancient times to reduce fever and can they be used in the treatment of children? The most common method of combating hyperthermia is cold compresses and rubbing the baby's body with water. True, compresses are more suitable if the baby is lethargic and can stay in bed for some time. A cloth soaked in cool water is recommended to apply to the forehead and areas of profuse sweating (armpit and groin areas). You can also wipe the palms and feet of the baby with a damp towel.

For infants, wrapping in a wet sheet and cooling the air with a fan (it should not be directed at the baby) can be considered good methods of combating fever.

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

Herbal treatment also helps in fighting post-vaccine fever. The temperature in children and adults is brought down by an enema with chamomile. For the same purpose, salt solution (1 tbsp. Per 1 liter of water at room temperature) is also used. But this treatment is not recommended to use often, so as not to disrupt the intestinal microflora.

With fever, it is necessary to make sure that the child drinks more fluids, and it is better if it will be diaphoretic teas. Particularly popular in this regard are infusions of raspberry leaves, lime color, leaves and berries of currants, cranberries.

Fruits and berries with a high content of vitamin C: black currants, rose hips, sea buckthorn, oranges, kiwi, rowanberries, strawberries help to fight hyperthermia. The main thing is that they should not cause an allergic reaction in the baby.

It is very important to make sure that the air in the room where the child is staying is not too dry and hot (ideally the temperature should be between 18-20 degrees Celsius). The room should be ventilated regularly. As long as 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 after vaccination still remains high, you have to look for other means to reduce it. Not a bad alternative to pharmacy drugs are homeopathic remedies that have virtually no contraindications and side effects. However, such remedies are beneficial only if they are prescribed by an experienced homeopath, and self-medication is fraught with complications.

The disadvantage of such remedies is a long interval between taking the drug and the onset of the desired effect. But a sharp decrease in temperature in postvaccinal reactions is usually not required. Homeopathic remedies will help the baby easier to tolerate high temperatures, gradually returning it to normal values.

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

Thus Aconitum is prescribed if the child has a high fever, he becomes restless, in bed his face turns red, and when rising pale, 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, with vomiting after drinking, anxiety, chills, deterioration of appetite. Chamomilla is effective for slight thirst and chills, sweating, irritability, attention demand, helps sensitive babies.

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

Prevention

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

The nursing staff should carefully select children for vaccination and take care of post-vaccination care. Children who are weakened by frequent illnesses should be prescribed anti-viral medications and general tonic treatments beforehand.

It is important for parents to pay attention to the baby's condition on the eve of vaccination, all unusual symptoms should be reported to the doctor. Do not rush to give your child antipyretics for preventive purposes. It may relieve the baby's condition, but there is a risk that the medicine will mask the real cause of fever - a serious illness that you did not suspect or forgot about.

Forecast

It is a thankless task to make predictions about whether a child will have a fever after vaccination and what it will be associated with. And yet it is worth paying special attention to children who have a tendency to allergic diseases, there are chronic diseases that can be exacerbated by the introduction of pathogens or their toxins, immunity weakened by diseases. There are a number of contraindications to vaccination, taking into account which can avoid complications:

• low weight of the child, less than 2.5 kg for BCG vaccination,
• negative experience of vaccination in the past, when the baby has already had complications against this background,
• suspicion of a predisposition to autism spectrum disorders,
• presence of malignant formations (not earlier than 3 months after a full course of treatment and measures to strengthen immunity),
• 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 anticonvulsant medication or specialist consultation),
• diseases of the nervous system in the acute stage (in the period of remission vaccination is not prohibited, but you should take into account the fact that most often mental illnesses are exacerbated during DPT vaccination),

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

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

Considering these contraindications can reduce the likelihood of postvaccine complications with or without severe fever.

The temperature of a child after vaccination can rise for various reasons. If it is only a postvaccinal reaction, about which doctors and instructions to the drugs warn, the prognosis is favorable. Symptoms quickly disappear without consequences, fever is easily brought down by antipyretics and cooling procedures. If a strong rise in temperature is accompanied by other suspicious symptoms, the child becomes lethargic, apathetic or, conversely, cranky irritable, he has vomiting, headaches, appetite disorders, 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.