Over the years, the debate about the need and benefit / harm of vaccines has not subsided, but for most people there is no doubt about the feasibility of vaccination. Many mothers do not even think about whether to vaccinate a child or sign a refusal, on the appointed day and time they come to the clinic and protect their baby from dangerous diseases.
If parents do not need to have a complete understanding of the vaccination procedure itself, such as, say, a doctor, then the possible side effects of the vaccine should be known in sufficient detail. Sometimes they can appear late at night, causing great anxiety of the parents, in a day, two, or even a week later. In order not to panic (and thereby not to worry the child), you need to know what reaction may occur to a particular vaccine.
The most common unpleasant consequence of vaccination in a child is the temperature after vaccination. In this case, the temperature can jump both over the next 20 minutes, and much later. In this regard, mothers and their babies are advised not to leave the clinic immediately after the introduction of the vaccine, to be under the supervision of a doctor or other health care provider for at least half an hour. At home, it is recommended to have antipyretic drugs in the medicine cabinet , but they should be taken only if the child's temperature after vaccination has risen above the mark of 38 degrees.
Why is this happening? Vaccination is the introduction into the body of weakened or killed microbes that are the causative agent of a particular disease. The body begins to fight with an uninvited guest and thus develops immunity to the disease against which the vaccination process was carried out. In other words, if a child’s temperature “crawled” up after vaccination , this means that the body is struggling and develops immune defense. However, the absence of an elevated temperature after vaccination is not at all an indicator of the inefficiency of the procedure. It all depends on the specific child and the characteristics of his body.
As a rule, older children quite calmly tolerate the introduction of a vaccine into the body. It is more difficult for babies to cope with vaccinations, since vaccination is a serious stress for a fragile body, so parents should carefully monitor the crumbs and inform the doctor about all the reactions that occur.
The temperature in the baby after vaccination can remain within the normal range (that is, the child goes through the adaptation process normally), but it can also increase. Therefore, it is important for mother during this period not to change her own diet so as not to provoke an allergic reaction (this is important for those who are breastfeeding). If the child’s temperature after vaccination quickly stepped over the 38-degree mark, it is worth informing the doctor about this, he will recommend an antipyretic agent (prescribing them to the child is an unforgivable mistake!), Which will lower the body temperature and ease the condition of the peanut.
In addition to an increase in body temperature, a weakened body responds to the introduction of the vaccine with a seal at the injection site, which can also become inflamed and suppurate. Therefore, it is worthwhile to wait a few days with water procedures and make sure that the child does not scratch the injection site. Against the background of an increase in temperature, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea sometimes occur. This should also be notified to the doctor.
As a rule, if a child has a fever after vaccination, then with subsequent vaccinations, the same reaction can be expected. But sometimes, an increase in body temperature may not be connected in any way with vaccination procedures (for example, when teething)
In most cases, various reactions to the introduction of a vaccine into the child’s body occur within a day, but this also depends on the type of vaccination. So, with the introduction of live vaccines (for measles, mumps, rubella), the reaction occurs 5-12 days after the injection. Immune protection is developed within two months, so it is important not to allow hypothermia during this period and to saturate the body with vitamins.
Summarizing the above, it is worth noting that if the temperature has risen after vaccination, then there is no reason for panic. If it does not exceed 38 degrees, do not take any medications and harass yourself and the baby. Just give your child more attention and care. If the temperature exceeds the threshold value (38 degrees), then, after consulting a doctor (this can be done even before vaccination), it is worth giving the baby an antipyretic.