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Vaccine reaction Causes and Risks:
Vaccines considered capable of producing injury or abnormal conditions such as seizures include DPT (D= diphtheria , P= pertussis or whooping cough, T= tetanus ), Polio vaccine (oral only), and MMR (M - measles , M - mumps , R - rubella ) and possibly hepatitis B vaccine (HBV).
The Department of Health and Human Service has found that whole cell (DPT) pertussis containing vaccines have a causal relationship with the following conditions: The Department of Health and Human Services also has determined that vaccines containing pertussis do NOT have a causal relationship with: As the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act presently stands, the criteria for vaccine-related injuries are:
DPT MMR - anaphylactic shock - Children with anaphylactic reaction to egg ingestion should have an allergy consult before considering vaccination with MMR
- encephalitis occurring within 15 days of immunization
Polio vaccine (live) - paralytic polio (nonimmunodeficient individual) within 30 days
- paralytic polio (immunocompromised individual) within six months
Polio vaccine (inactivated) - Anaphylactic shock occurring within seven days
Prevention:
The incidence of vaccine related injury is extremely low. Vaccines are available that have decreased reactions including less fever , less swelling at the site of injection, and less vaccine related conditions (as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services). The DtaP (acellular Pertussus) and the Salk (IPV) vaccines are now being used to reduce side effects (see "Immunizations"). Considering the severity of the diseases that childhood immunizations prevent, the risk of the disease FAR exceeds the risk of injury from the vaccine. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act were established to track and record reactions to vaccines and help clarify whether reports are anecdotal or there is a consistent pattern of injury associated with a given vaccine. Physicians are required to record complete information about the vaccines they are using and supply this information with reports of injury.
Symptoms:
NORMAL REACTION TO DPT IMMUNIZATION ABNORMAL REACTION TO DPT IMMUNIZATION - unrelieved crying
- high-pitched cry
- unusual shock-like syndrome
- marked increase in sleeping time
- persistent high fever (104 degrees Fahrenheit or greater)
- seizure or convulsion
REACTION TO MMR
Measles : - fever up to 103 degrees about seven-10 days after vaccine administration
- measles rash (milder than natural measles) (low incidence)
Rubella REACTION TO POLIO VACCINES
LIVE (OPV) - Paralytic polio (non-immunodeficient individual) within 30 days
- Paralytic polio (immunocompromised individual) within six months
ABNORMAL REACTION TO HBV ( hepatitis B vaccine ) - anaphylactic shock (plasma-derived version)
Signs and Tests:
Testing is usually unnecessary.
Treatment:
Treatment depends on the type of symptom observed following immunization. Fever is normally treated with acetaminophen and cool sponge baths. Children with seizures must be seen by a health care provider promptly. Children who develop encephalitis will be hospitalized.
Prognosis:
Very few children who receive standard childhood vaccines develop significant problems following immunizations. For children who develop problems, standard fever care and a call to the health care provider for reassurance often suffice
. Complications: - sterile abscess at site of immunization
- other complications are the same as listed under the Symptoms
Complications:
- sterile abscess at site of immunization
- other complications are the same as listed under the Symptoms
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call your health care provider if you feel that your child is having an adverse reaction to DPT, MMR or polio immunizations.
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