The child's temperature after vaccination - is there any reason for panic?

For many years, the debate about the need and benefit / harm of vaccinations has not abated, but for most people there is no doubt about the advisability of vaccination. Many mothers do not even think about whether to vaccinate a child or sign a refusal, on the appointed day and hour they come to the polyclinic and protect their baby from dangerous diseases.

If the parents themselves do not need to have a full picture of the vaccination procedure themselves, as, say, a doctor, you should find out about possible side effects of the vaccine introduction in sufficient detail. Sometimes they may appear late at night, causing severe anxiety to parents, in a day, two, or even a week later. In order not to panic (and thus not to worry the child), you need to know what kind of reaction can occur for this or that inoculation.

The most frequent unpleasant consequence of vaccination in a child is the temperature after vaccination. In this case, the temperature can jump both for the next 20 minutes, and much later. In this regard, moms and their babies are advised not to leave the clinic immediately after the introduction of the vaccine, be under the supervision of a doctor or other health care worker for at least half an hour. At home it is recommended to have antipyretics in the medicine cabinet , but they should be taken only if the child's temperature after vaccination has risen above the level of 38 degrees.

Why is this happening? Vaccination is the introduction into the body of weakened or killed microbes, which 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 conducted. In other words, if the child's temperature after the vaccination "crawled" upward, it means that the body is fighting and developing immune protection. However, the absence of an elevated temperature after vaccination is not at all indicative of the ineffectiveness of the procedure. All this depends on the specific child and the characteristics of his body.

As a rule, older babies easily tolerate the introduction of the vaccine into the body. Children are harder to cope with inoculations, as vaccination is a serious stress for an immature organism, therefore parents should closely monitor the baby and inform the doctor about all the reactions that arise.

The temperature of the baby after the vaccination may remain within the normal range (that is, the child normally undergoes the adaptation process), but may also increase. Therefore, during this period, it is important for the mother not to change her own diet so as not to provoke the appearance of an allergic reaction (this is important for those who feed the baby with the breast). If the child's temperature after the vaccination has quickly crossed the 38-degree mark, it is worth notifying the doctor about this, he will recommend an antipyretic agent (to assign them to the child himself - an unforgivable mistake!), Which will lower the body temperature and ease the condition of the baby.

In addition to increasing body temperature, the weakened organism reacts to the introduction of the vaccine with a seal at the injection site, which can also become inflamed and suppurated. Therefore, a few days worth of waiting with the water procedures and to ensure that the child does not scratch the site of the injection. Against the background of a fever, sometimes there is lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea. This, too, need to notify the doctor.

As a rule, if the child had a fever after vaccination, then the same reaction can be expected in subsequent vaccinations. But sometimes an increase in body temperature may not be associated with vaccination procedures (for example, with teething)

In most cases, various reactions to the introduction of a vaccine into the child's body are manifested during the day, but this also depends on the type of vaccination. So, with the introduction of live vaccines (from 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 what has been said, it is worth noting that if the temperature rises after vaccination, then there is no reason for panic. If it does not exceed 38 degrees, do not take any medications and spoil yourself and the baby. Just give the 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 the vaccination), it is worth giving the baby an antipyretic.