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Immunizations - Symptoms of Severe Reactions to Vaccinations

Description

An in-depth report on the purpose of immunizations and recommended schedules.

Alternative Names

Measles; Rubella; Tetanus; Vaccinations; Whooping cough

Symptoms of Severe Reactions to Vaccinations:

Call the doctor immediately if a child has any of the following symptoms.

Extremely High Fever. A rectal temperature of 105 °F or higher. (Temperatures taken under the arm or by mouth often register lower than actual temperatures.)
Inconsolable Crying. The child has been crying for over 3 hours without stopping or has a cry that isn't normal, such as a high-pitched sound.
Convulsions. The child's body starts shaking, twitching, or jerking. This is usually in response to a high fever. Place the child face down with the head to one side, protecting the head from hitting anything hard. Be sure the child can breathe freely. A simple febrile seizure stops by itself within a few seconds to 10 minutes.

Seek immediate medical attention if a child has any of the following symptoms

Shock. The child collapses, turns pale, and becomes unresponsive.
Severe Allergic (Anaphylactic) Reaction. Swelling in the mouth and throat, wheezing and breathing difficulties, dizziness. The child collapses or is pale and limp.

Call the doctor if the following symptoms persist for more than 24 hours:

The injection site is still red and tender.
Fever does not go down.
The child is still fussy.

Resources

www.immunize.org -- Immunization Action Coalition
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ -- The National Immunization Program
www.fda.gov/cber/vaers/vaers.htm -- Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/ -- National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
www.immunizationinfo.org -- The National Network for Immunization Information
www.vaccine.chop.edu -- Vaccine Education Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
www.vaccinesafety.edu -- Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
www.whathealth.com -- National Partnership for Immunization
www.immunofacts.com -- Information on vaccinations
www.vaccines.org -- The Vaccine Page

References

American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: recommendations for use of meningococcal vaccines in pediatric patients. Pediatrics. 2005 Aug;116(2):496-505.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Immunization Schedule for Ages 0 - 6 Years, United States, 2009.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Immunization Schedule for Ages 7 - 18 Years, United States, 2009.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults, United States, 2009. Available online.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Revised Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to Vaccinate All Persons Aged 11 - 18 Years with Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2007:56(31);794-795.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notice to Readers: Recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for Use of Quadrivalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4) in Children Aged 2 - 10 Years at Increased Risk for Invasive Meningococcal Disease. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2007;56(48);1265-1266.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2008. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2008:57(No. RR-7).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update on Hib Vaccine Shortage. October 22, 2008. Available online.

Chaves SS, Gargiullo P, Zhang JX, Civen R, Guris D, Mascola L. Loss of vaccine-induced immunity to varicella over time. NEJM. March 15, 2007;356:1121-1129.

Garland SM, Hernandez-Avila M, Wheeler CM, Perez G, Harper DM, Leodolter S, et al. Quadrivalent vaccine against human papillomavirus to prevent anogenital diseases. NEJM. May 10, 2007;356:1928-1943.

GlaxoSmithKline. Boostrix Prescribing Information. December, 2008.

Grijalva CG, Nuorti JP, Arbogast PG, Martin SW, Edwards KM, Griffin MR. Decline in pneumonia admissions after routine childhood immunisation with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the USA: a time-series analysis. Lancet. April 7, 2007;369:1179-1186.

Poehling KA, Szilagyi PG, Crijalva CG, Martin SW, LaFleur B, Mitchel E, et al. Reduction of frequent otitis media and pressure-equalizing tube insertions in children after introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Pediatrics. April 4, 2007;119:707-715.

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves Expanded Uses for Gardasil to Include Preventing Certain Vulvar and Vaginal Cancers. September 12, 2008.

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves New Vaccine to Prevent Gastroenteritis Caused by Rotavirus. April 3, 2008.

US Food and Drug Administration. Zostavax Questions and Answers. Available online. Last Accessed 3/12/2009.

World Health Organization. Immunization surveillance, assessment and monitoring -- United States of America (the) reported cases. Last Updated: December 18, 2008. Available online.

Zuckerman JN. Protective efficacy, immunotherapeutic potential, and safety of hepatitis B vaccines. J Med Virol. 2006 Feb;78(2):169-77.

Reviewed last on: 3/23/2009
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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