DTP vaccination side effects in adults. What should be the normal reaction to DTP vaccination? Adverse reaction at the injection site

DTP vaccination is one of the most difficult to tolerate for a child's body. Due to the many side effects and consequences that occur in children against the background of vaccination, parents often think about whether to vaccinate their baby. And, if a positive decision is made, they are looking for ways to minimize the consequences for the child, carefully monitoring his condition after the injection.

Of course, when vaccinating a baby, the mother worries about his condition, but the benefits of DPT vaccination against serious diseases (whooping cough, tetanus) are too great. Against this background, the consequences of its introduction are insignificant. If you follow the doctor's recommendations before, during and after vaccination, the risks will be minimized.

How to prepare for the DTP vaccination, how many times it is done, how do children tolerate vaccination, is this vaccine dangerous? We will discuss all the pros and cons of DPT vaccination in our article!

What is it, what is it for, composition

DTP is an adsorbed (concentrated) liquid vaccine for the prevention of serious diseases:

And what is the best inhaler for a child? Help in choosing - in the following material:.

Efficiency and assistance to the baby after vaccination

The use of the combined vaccine virtually eliminated the incidence of diphtheria and tetanus and greatly reduced whooping cough infections. One vaccine instead of three is better tolerated by children and more convenient for adults. In order for the side reactions to it to be minimal, you need to help the baby a little.

  • give the antipyretic recommended by the doctor and monitor the temperature of the baby;
  • if necessary and as directed by the pediatrician, give an antihistamine;
  • if the seal at the injection site is a concern, you can smear it with an anti-inflammatory ointment;
  • give more drink;
  • do not force feed, but only at will, do not introduce new products;
  • limit visits to crowded places and exclude strangers from staying at home;
  • well ventilate the nursery;
  • on the first day after vaccination, refrain from swimming.

How to prepare a child for vaccination, what is its effect, what are the consequences and complications after DPT vaccination in children, are there any side effects - Dr. Komarovsky gives recommendations in the following video:

DTP vaccination is not mandatory, and everyone has the right to decide for himself whether to vaccinate his child. It remains only to hope that loving parents will be able to make the right and informed choice, which will positively affect the future of the baby.

In contact with

After vaccination with DTP, the baby may show fever, anxiety, tearfulness. The baby does not sleep well, loses his appetite. The reaction to DTP in a baby can be different: it can be acute or almost imperceptible. What reaction is considered normal, what to expect for mothers, we will tell you in more detail.

Normal body reactions to vaccination

After DTP, children may experience the following reaction:

  • an increase in the mercury column on the thermometer to 38.5;
  • redness or itching at the injection site;
  • tearfulness or restlessness;
  • loss of appetite;
  • bad dream.

An increase in temperature in children up to 38 degrees, in the first three days after DTP vaccination, should not cause concern to parents. This is the physiological reaction of the body to the administered drug. It is worth giving the baby an antipyretic drug according to the scheme and monitor his well-being.

Redness or itching at the vaccination site can cause big trouble for the crumbs. The reaction provokes bad sleep. To alleviate the condition, give the baby an antihistamine and lubricate the reddened area with Fenistil-gel. You can bandage the leg with a thin cotton cloth or gauze. If the baby stops combing the reddened place, then the itching will pass faster.

The child becomes tearful due to general malaise. Calm the baby, provide him with peace. Do not play with the baby in active games, wrap, overheat. The room should not be hot. Follow the daily routine. You can not switch to new bait within 7 days. For babies, give breasts more often, let the baby suckle in small portions. Keep track of your baby's weight.


If the baby does not sleep well, often wakes up crying, you can try to alleviate the condition in well-known and simple ways:

  1. Make an infusion from the collection of mint, lemon balm, hawthorn. Dry collection (1 teaspoon) you need to pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and insist in a warm place for 3 hours. Give the baby from a bottle 2-1.5 hours before bedtime. The child will calm down, the itching will pass, sleep will return to normal.
  2. Make a compress of honey with flour, apply it to the sore spot. The cake should not be warm, only at room temperature. Remember, you can’t warm the place after DTP, this can provoke inflammation.
  3. If the cause of poor sleep after DTP is high temperature, wipe the baby's body with warm water. You can add alcohol to the water, in a ratio of 5/1. Do not try to bring down the temperature by wiping with vodka or vinegar. The compositions are aggressive and you can easily dry out the delicate skin.
  4. Before going to bed, give your baby a light soothing massage. But do not rub the vaccination site. Help the baby to relax, then the sleep will be calmer.
  5. Before going to bed, ventilate the room and put on a humidifier. If there is no purchased device, you can simply hang a damp sheet or towel on the batteries.
  6. Well soothe children infusions of chamomile. Dried flowers are brewed like tea and given to babies from a bottle. Chamomile will help relieve itching, reduce inflammation and the baby will calm down.

It is important to monitor the general condition of children. If the temperature is high, and the child eats and sleeps well, then there is no cause for concern. When he sleeps poorly, and at the same time has a high temperature, which antipyretic compounds do not bring down, it is worth calling specialists.

How many days should I expect a reaction after vaccination?

The reaction to the vaccine in children may not appear immediately. The crumbs react individually to the drug, so not everyone may have a reaction after the first vaccination. After the second vaccination, the picture can change dramatically - the temperature rises, appetite and sleep worsen.

It cannot be said for sure that if children do not have a temperature on the first day after DPT, then on the second and third it will not rise. Monitor the condition of the baby and often put a thermometer. We recommend giving the baby antipyretic drugs for three days after vaccination: Nurofen, Ibuklin, Paracetamol. Infants put candles: Viferon, Efferalgan. This will help the baby bring down the fever and the allergic reaction will pass. Giving an antihistamine continues 3-4 days after vaccination, according to the scheme prescribed by the pediatrician.

Each baby is different, so the reaction in each case may be different. In some children, the temperature lasts only a day, the second are unwell for 3-4 days. But do not set yourself up for the worst, in 60% of cases the DTP vaccination is painless.

Poor sleep in a baby can be provoked not by vaccination, but by nervous overexcitation. After vaccination, you should not immediately leave the clinic with a crying baby. Sit a little near the office, let the child calm down. Attach to your chest, talk to him in a calm voice. The child will calm down and there will be fewer side effects.

If bad sleep is not accompanied by fever and repeats for 2-3 nights, then it is worth showing the baby to neurologists. In children, muscle tone may increase due to nerves and vaccination has nothing to do with disorders. The baby will be prescribed massage and physiotherapy.

Do not worry if the child after DTP does not sleep well for 1-2 nights, the temperature rises in the evening, and during the day the baby rests and eats well. Parents should be alert for the following signs in children:

  • the temperature is above 38.5 and does not subside;
  • the DTP site is swollen and hot;
  • an abscess appeared on the leg, from which pus flows;
  • after each meal the baby is sick;
  • the dream is gone, the child roars incessantly;
  • the skin has changed color to yellow or pale with blue.

Any reaction requires immediate medical attention. We recommend calling an ambulance.

What Dr. Komarovsky says about complications, we recommend watching the video:

The condition of the baby after DPT depends on the preparation. If you perform the correct preparatory steps and follow the recommendations of the doctor, then the baby will sleep well, and vaccination will not cause negative consequences.

DTP vaccination - when can I bathe a child?

When a small child appears in the family, young parents are already knocked off their feet: what to feed, how to dress, what to do if they suddenly get sick ... And here, less than three months have passed since birth, pediatricians call for a DPT vaccination (decoding of the abbreviation - adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus). After reading about the negative consequences, mothers grab their heads. Let's try together to figure out what is more terrible: to vaccinate or leave the child defenseless against formidable diseases?

What is DTP vaccination

At the age of up to six months, the child's own immunity is formed, which, of course, is facilitated by breastfeeding. Therefore, it is during this period that DTP is included in the vaccination calendar. The decoding suggests that its composition contains dead cells of pathogens of all three diseases. This is necessary so that the baby's body gets acquainted with dangerous cells, and the immune system develops antibodies.

This is how “cellular memory” is formed: having met with a similar pathogen in the future, the system will remember the virus. Ready-made antibodies will instantly begin to be produced, which will help to quickly cope with the disease. The causative agents of whooping cough cause the most violent reaction of the body (temperature, edema), therefore, weakened babies are offered an analogue of the vaccine - ADS (adsorbed diphtheria-tetanus).

How dangerous are these diseases?

These are quite insidious infections, and their consequences are especially severe. Let's consider them separately:

1 Whooping cough. It is easy to confuse it with a banal flu or a cold: the same cough and runny nose. And only after a few weeks, when the symptoms of SARS should already pass, it becomes clear that the picture is completely different. With whooping cough, the condition only worsens every day, a painful cough can last up to 15 minutes, accompanied by vomiting or bleeding. In babies, this can lead to respiratory arrest. The consequence can be a "residual form" when every cold comes with the same severe cough.

In the case of diphtheria and tetanus, the worst thing is not the bacteria themselves, but the poison they produce.

2. Diphtheria. Toxins affect the heart, liver and kidneys, and the nervous system. The consequence may be suffocation.

3. Tetanus. An even more terrible toxin produced by these bacteria causes severe muscle spasms, which are accompanied by pain and cramps. Cardiac or respiratory arrest is not uncommon.

The only reliable protection is DPT vaccination. Decoding sometimes scares parents with its multicomponent nature. But here it is not the quantity that matters, but compatibility. It is this combination that has been considered ideal since the 1940s and is still considered ideal. Additionally, along with DTP, it is permissible to do hepatitis B.

Types of vaccines used

Today, parents can choose how to vaccinate their child. For routine vaccination, the domestic version of DTP is usually used (the transcript is presented a little higher). On a paid basis, you can put the Infanrix vaccine.

Combined preparations are also used:

  • Pentaxim is a standard DTP + against polio +
  • "Tritanrix-HB" - DTP +

Vaccination Schedule

The local pediatrician usually warns that the time has come to vaccinate. In different countries, the schedule is slightly different. Today in Russia, a child receives the first DTP at 3 months. The second should follow in 4.5, the third - in half a year. After a long break (a year), the last vaccination is given at 18 months. This completes the full course of vaccination, and the child receives 100% protection against these diseases.

Despite this, the question of how many DTP vaccinations a baby should receive remains open. In some countries they are made at 3, 6 and 18 months. In addition, there are medical exemptions for health reasons. If the first vaccination is delivered, and then a break is made, then it is not necessary to start the vaccination again, it is enough to continue the interrupted chain. Revaccination is carried out at 6 and 14 years, and then every ten years.

It should be noted that whooping cough is most dangerous for young children. Therefore, if the baby was not vaccinated with DTP before the age of 4, then it is possible to vaccinate with DTP, because whooping cough is much easier to tolerate at an older age.

Preparation for vaccination

The local pediatrician does not always prescribe a complete examination and collection of tests before vaccinations. This is easy to explain, given its workload. Sometimes doctors simply ask parents if the child is healthy, and on the basis of this they issue permission for vaccination. Since the responsibility for the health of babies lies with the parents, then they should take active steps:

  • Choose an independent doctor.
  • Get him a referral for tests and ultrasound.
  • Visit a neurologist.
  • Get complete information about the vaccines available in your country and advice on which one to choose.

If the child is absolutely healthy, then he, with virtually no risk, can be given a DTP vaccine. The decoding of this abbreviation should remind you of what terrible diseases you give him protection from. Imagine a restless boy who has not been vaccinated against tetanus. How many times will he break his knee, scratch himself on a rusty fence? And each such injury is a risk of catching an infection, which is fatal in 85% of cases.

If the vaccination date has already been scheduled, within 6 days (3 before and 3 after vaccination), you need to give the child half a Suprastin tablet in the morning and evening. Do not feed the baby before the visit After the DTP is delivered, it is not recommended to leave the clinic for 30 minutes in order to quickly get help in case of an allergic reaction. Arriving home, immediately give an antipyretic, for example, Nurofen or put candles with paracetamol. They also have an analgesic effect, which will help the baby to more easily endure vaccination. If on the second day the temperature is normal, the antipyretic can be canceled. If a high temperature persists on the third day, then call a doctor.

Deterioration after vaccination

Of all the mandatory ones, DTP is the most difficult to tolerate - a vaccine, the decoding of which sounds like adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus. Today you can find many materials speaking against vaccination in general, and they all refer specifically to the terrible consequences of DTP vaccinations.

In about 30% of cases, the following side effects appear:

  • redness and swelling of the injection site;
  • slight increase in body temperature;
  • increased anxiety;
  • disorders of the digestive system.

It should be noted that this is a normal reaction to DTP, the consequences of the body's struggle with foreign and hostile cells. Symptoms disappear within a day after vaccination. Today's realities are such that while children are waiting in line for a referral to the office, they are in contact with patients who have come for examination. Therefore, runny nose and diarrhea after vaccination may not be directly related to it.

Unfortunately, this is not the worst thing that can happen after a DTP vaccine is given. Consequences in the form of severe edema (more than 10 cm), incoming and dilated temperatures over 39 degrees, are considered severe. There are such reactions about 1 time in 15,000 children.

In rare cases, against the background of vaccination, the manifestation of previously hidden pathologies of the kidneys, liver, diseases of the central nervous system is possible. A case of rapid development of glomerulonephritis and the death of a child a week after DTP was recorded. In addition, anaphylactic shock, convulsions, encephalopathy are possible. The frequency of such complications is very low, approximately 1 case per 500,000-1,000,000 children. But for some, this case is fatal ...

First vaccination: important points

So, you are already 3 months old, and here it is - the first invitation for vaccination. Why at this age? Because during intrauterine development, the fetus received antibodies from the mother through the umbilical cord. And if a vaccine is introduced immediately after the birth of a child, they will interfere with the development of their own immunity. But gradually the natural protective barrier is reduced, it needs to be restored. That's what the doctors say. By the way, most likely, you will definitely be asked what vaccination to put. Choose an imported, purified vaccine, despite the fact that it is paid.

And one more very important point. If something bothers you in the state of the baby (snot, malaise), postpone the vaccination, do not listen to strong recommendations to go to the treatment room immediately. It can be delivered at 4 months or later. Medical workers are forced people, they are obliged to do their work on time. But, by and large, few people care about the health of your child. They need a "tick" in the report, and you will have to reap the sad rewards. God forbid, of course.

After vaccination, carefully observe the behavior of the child. Strong crying, large swelling, high fever - all this should be the reason for canceling subsequent vaccinations for a while or permanently, depending on the severity of the reaction. Only a slight rise in temperature (37-38 degrees) can be considered a normal reaction to DTP. Compaction and redness at the injection site should not last more than a day and exceed 5 cm in diameter. By the way, the drug "Infanrix", as a rule, does not cause reactions and complications, is well tolerated.

Second vaccination

After 30-45 days, if the first vaccination is well tolerated, the doctor will invite you for a second vaccination. If the child is ill at this time, then the procedure is postponed until recovery. Please note that the reaction may be stronger than the first time. This is considered normal, because the body has already managed to develop a certain amount of antibodies.

If the pediatrician does not ask, be sure to remind him about the reaction to the first vaccination. If it was pronounced, then you need to use an imported vaccine, as it is better tolerated. If the vaccination proceeded with complications, then replace the DTP ATP (without the pertussis component) or cancel it altogether, regardless of persuasion.

Third vaccination

Sometimes it is she, and not the second vaccination, that causes the strongest reaction of the body. By this time, you already know how the child tolerates this drug, and you can make the right decision. Of course, there is no need to risk health if complications have been experienced. It is after the introduction of the third dose of the vaccine that the body is considered to be completely protected from these three diseases.

Does the effectiveness of the vaccine depend on the injection site?

Yes. The drug is intended for intramuscular injection. In young children, the thigh muscle is well developed, and this is where the DTP vaccine is placed. Decoding (reviews often contain dissatisfaction with the content of aluminum, which acts as an adjuvant) is mandatory on the packaging, which you can verify by looking at the first photo of the article. Unfortunately, a specialist will not always explain to worried parents why the aforementioned aluminum is needed, but meanwhile, this is directly related to the question posed in the subtitle. Aluminum hydroxide adsorbs all the elements of the vaccine and keeps them at the injection site for a long time so that the immune response has time to form before they enter the bloodstream and are excreted from the body. Therefore, the drug is not injected under the skin and not into adipose tissue, namely into the muscle. Children over 4 years of age are given an injection in the forearm.

Do I need to be vaccinated?

Today, parents are really put in a stalemate. If you don’t want to, don’t do it, answer yourself and blame yourself if the baby becomes seriously ill. Put? Good. But keep in mind: if there are complications, you yourself wanted the vaccine. And by the way, no one offers or prescribes the necessary comprehensive examination. Parents try to find the answer in books, articles, discussions on DTP forums. Deciphering those very rare cases when the consequences turned out to be the most severe - all this clearly does not speak in favor of vaccination. What to do?

Let's turn to history. Prior to immunization, all children had whooping cough, and at least 5% died. Diphtheria was tolerated by about 25% of babies, and mortality was observed in almost 50% of cases. Tetanus is a very dangerous disease. And today, despite modern advances in medicine, mortality is about 80% among the sick.

Another thing is that due to mass immunization, the risk of an epidemic has decreased significantly, so your child may grow up and not get sick. Again, in the 1970s, there was a wave of vaccine refusals in Europe. The number of diseases, complications and deaths that followed in the next decade is incomparable with cases of complications after vaccination.

Summing up, we can say that DPT is a vaccination, reviews of which can be found in a wide variety, often sharply negative, due to its high reactogenicity. But if you carefully approach the choice of the drug, pass preliminary tests and prepare the baby's body, you can significantly reduce the risk of complications and protect the child from dangerous diseases. You are the parents, you decide.

Vaccinations have existed since the time of Catherine. Thanks to them, thousands of victims were saved. Undoubtedly, there is always a risk of side effects after vaccination, but the task of every parent is to protect their child from serious diseases. Only a competent approach to vaccinations and awareness will help to avoid terrible consequences. Next, consider what is DTP vaccination. Komarovsky, a well-known children's doctor, will help prepare the child for vaccination and possible side effects with his advice.

Let's decipher DTP

What do these letters mean?

A - adsorbed vaccine.

K - whooping cough.

D - diphtheria.

C - tetanus.

The vaccine consists of weakened bacteria - the causative agents of the above diseases, sorbed on the basis of aluminum hydroxide and merthiolate. There are also cell-free vaccines, more purified. They contain particles of microorganisms that stimulate the body to produce the necessary antibodies.

Note that Dr. Komarovsky says: “The DPT vaccination is the most difficult and can be difficult for a child to tolerate. The pertussis element contained in it complicates its portability.

One vaccine will protect against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. These diseases can lead to a sad outcome, and how dangerous they are, we will consider further.

Dangerous diseases

The DTP vaccine will protect against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. Why are these diseases dangerous?

Whooping cough is a disease caused by an acute infection. There is a very strong cough, which can provoke respiratory arrest, convulsions. A complication is the development of pneumonia. The disease is highly contagious and dangerous, especially for children under 2 years of age.

Diphtheria is an infectious disease. Easily spread by airborne droplets. Severe intoxication occurs, and a dense plaque forms on the tonsils. Swelling of the larynx may occur, there is a great threat of disruption of the heart, kidneys and nervous system.

Tetanus is an acute and infectious disease. The nervous system is damaged. Reduces muscles on the face, limbs, back. There are difficulties in swallowing, it is difficult to open the jaws. Dangerous violation of the respiratory system. In most cases, death. The infection is transmitted through lesions on the skin and mucous membranes.

When and to whom do DTP

From the very birth of a child, a vaccination schedule is set. If you comply with all the terms of vaccination, the effectiveness will be high, the child in this case is reliably protected. DPT vaccination, Komarovsky draws attention to this, should also be done in a timely manner. Since the child is protected by the mother's antibodies only in the first 6 weeks from birth.

Vaccination can be domestic or imported.

However, all DTP vaccines, regardless of the manufacturer, are administered in three stages. Since immunity weakens after the first vaccination, it is necessary to re-vaccinate. There is a rule for DTP vaccination:

  1. The vaccine should be administered in three stages.
  2. In this case, the interval between vaccinations should be at least 30-45 days.

If missing, the graph looks like this:

  • 1 vaccination - at 3 months.
  • 2 vaccinations - at 4-5 months.
  • 3 vaccinations - at 6 months.

In the future, the interval should be at least 30 days. According to the plan, DTP vaccination is carried out in:

  • 18 months.
  • 6-7 years old.
  • 14 years.

Adults can be vaccinated once every 10 years. In this case, it must be observed that it should not be less than one and a half months.

Very often, one vaccine contains antibodies against several diseases. This does not burden the child's body at all, since they are easily tolerated. So, for example, if DTP and polio are vaccinated, Komarovsky notes that they can be done simultaneously, since the latter has practically no side effects.

The polio vaccine is oral, live. After it, it is recommended not to contact unvaccinated children for two weeks.

How long does the protection last

After the DPT vaccination is done (Komarovsky explains it this way), the immune system begins to produce antibodies to measles, diphtheria and tetanus. So, it was found that after vaccination in a month, the level of antibodies in the body will be 0.1 IU / ml. How long the protection will last depends largely on the characteristics of the vaccine. As a rule, immune protection is calculated for 5 years. Therefore, the interval of scheduled vaccinations is 5-6 years. At an older age, it is enough to do DPT once every 10 years.

If the DPT vaccination is done, then the likelihood of getting diphtheria, tetanus or measles is very low. It is believed that a person in this case is protected from these viruses.

In order not to harm the body, it must be remembered that there are a number of contraindications.

Who should not do DTP

DPT is one of the vaccines that is difficult to tolerate in childhood. And if before that there were no reactions to vaccinations, then it can cause side effects. In order not to cause unwanted consequences of DTP vaccination, Komarovsky advises paying attention to the reasons why vaccination should be canceled.

The reasons may be temporary, these include:

  • Colds.
  • infectious diseases.
  • Increased body temperature.
  • Exacerbation of chronic diseases.

In such cases, it is necessary to cure the child, and only two weeks after complete recovery, DTP can be done.

DTP vaccination should not be done if there are the following diseases:

  • Deviations in the work of the nervous system that progress.
  • Previous vaccinations were very difficult to tolerate.
  • The child had a history of seizures.
  • Previous vaccinations caused
  • Immunodeficiency.
  • Special sensitivity to the components of the vaccine or their intolerance.

If your child has any disease, or you are afraid that the DTP vaccination will cause unwanted consequences, you should consult a doctor. You may be given a vaccine that does not contain whooping cough toxoids, because they can cause adverse reactions.

Vaccination may also be delayed if the child:

  • Diathesis.
  • Little weight.
  • encephalopathy.

Under these conditions, vaccination is possible, but preparation for DPT vaccination, Komarovsky emphasizes this, should consist in stabilizing the state of health. It is best to use a cell-free vaccine with a high degree of purification for such children.

Possible conditions after vaccination

What are the possible consequences after the DPT vaccination? Reviews Komarovsky gives various. And all side effects can be divided into mild, moderate and severe.

As a rule, the reaction to the vaccine appears after 3 doses. Perhaps because it is from this moment that the immune defense begins to form. The child should be observed, especially in the first hours after vaccination and for the next three days. If the baby gets sick on the fourth day after vaccination, then it cannot be the cause of the disease.

The occurrence of adverse reactions after vaccination is a very common occurrence. Every third person may have them. Mild reactions that resolve within 2-3 days:


Moderate and severe side effects

More serious side effects cannot be ruled out. They are much less common:

  • Body temperature can rise to 39-40 degrees.
  • Febrile seizures may occur.
  • The injection site will redden significantly, exceed 8 centimeters, and edema will appear more than 5 centimeters.
  • There will be diarrhea and vomiting.

If such reactions to the vaccine occur, it is urgent to show the child to the doctor.

In very rare cases, manifestations of more severe adverse reactions are possible:


DTP is a vaccination (Komarovsky notes this especially), which causes such side effects in one case per million.

Such a reaction may appear in the first 30 minutes after the injection. Therefore, the doctor recommends not to leave immediately after vaccination, but to stay near the medical facility during this time. Then you should show the child again to the doctor. All this is done in order to be able to provide the necessary assistance to the baby.

What to do after vaccination

In order for the child to tolerate the vaccine more easily, it is necessary not only to prepare for it, but also to behave correctly after it. Namely, follow some rules:

  • The child should not bathe in the bath and do not wet the injection site.
  • Dr. Komarovsky recommends walking, but do not walk in public places.
  • Spend these 3 days at home without visitors, especially if the baby has a temperature or is naughty.
  • The air in the room should be moist and fresh.
  • You should not introduce a new product into the diet a week before vaccination and after. If the baby is breastfed, mom should not try new foods.
  • Parents of children with allergies should be especially careful. Talk to your doctor about which antihistamines to give before and after vaccination.

How to behave in the event of adverse reactions

The manifestation of mild adverse reactions is still possible. Since the DTP vaccine is considered the most difficult for the body, especially if the child had previously had negative reactions to vaccinations. What to do in case of side effects after DTP vaccination:

  • Temperature. Komarovsky recommends constantly monitoring it. You should not wait until 38, you need to give an antipyretic as soon as it starts to rise.
  • If there is swelling or redness at the injection site, it is necessary to show the child to the doctor. Perhaps this drug did not get into the muscle, but into the subcutaneous fat, because of this, swelling and induration may appear. In any case, a doctor's consultation is necessary to alleviate the child's condition and exclude possible complications. If it is just a slight redness, it will go away within 7 days and nothing needs to be done.

In order to avoid side effects, you should take seriously the preparation of the child for vaccination. More on this later.

How to prepare your child for DTP vaccination

Komarovsky gives some simple and necessary advice:


Should I do DTP?

Currently, you can observe Remember: the disease threatens with much greater problems than the consequences that arise after the DTP vaccination. Reviews Komarovsky, according to him, heard different things about vaccination, but there are always more pros than cons. After all, having been ill with diphtheria or tetanus, there is no immunity to these diseases. Medicine does not stand still, and vaccines are becoming more purified and safer. It's worth thinking about it. No need to risk the health and life of the child. A high-quality vaccine, an attentive doctor can reduce the risks of developing side effects. Health to you and your children.

DPT is an adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccine, which consists of killed pertussis microbes and pre-purified diphtheria and tetanus toxoid. Microbial suspension is created on the basis of aluminum hydroskad gel.

1 ml of domestic vaccine contains:

  1. 20 billion pertussis microbial cells;
  2. 30 flocculating units of diphtheria toxoid;
  3. 10 antitoxin-binding units of tetanus toxoid.

Dosage - 3 intramuscular inoculations of 0.5 ml with an interval of 6 weeks and subsequent revaccination in a year.

Mild side effects after DTP vaccination

Mild side effects include:

  1. increase in body temperature up to 39 degrees,
  2. drowsiness, lethargy or, conversely, anxiety,
  3. local reactions in the form of edema, induration or even bumps, redness,
  4. lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.

The listed side effects occur in children after vaccination with high frequency. But this does not mean that your baby will certainly encounter them. Let's consider each symptom in more detail to determine where the norm ends, pathology occurs, and how to alleviate the child's condition in each of the cases.

Increase in body temperature

With an increase in body temperature after DTP, every fourth child occurs. This is a normal phenomenon, which indicates the beginning of the formation of immunity to diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. But this is not a reason to refuse to help the baby. Therefore, parents are interested in what to do if the temperature rises after an injection of DPT?

If the temperature rises to 38 degrees or higher, then the following measures must be taken:

  1. provide the child with bed rest;
  2. provide plenty of warm drink;
  3. give an antipyretic recommended by your pediatrician;
  4. call an ambulance if the temperature rises above 39 degrees.

Just as often, parents are concerned about the question of how many days the elevated body temperature caused by the DTP vaccine can last. Usually the temperature rises on the first day after vaccination and lasts for three days. If it persists for the fourth and subsequent days, this indicates the course of a pathological process in the child's body, which can be caused by a cold. During the vaccination period, the child's body becomes weak, and he is not able to resist viruses.

Local reactions

Local reactions are detected in every fourth child. Vaccination injection can be caused by:

  • redness,
  • edema,
  • seal or bump
  • tumor,
  • pain,

Reddening of the injection site and swelling with a seal up to 8 centimeters in diameter are considered normal. Pain syndrome is expressed with different strength. Children respond to pain by crying loudly. If it increases with movement, then the baby tries not to move the leg into which the vaccine was injected.

Parents often note that the baby, after vaccination, began to limp on the leg into which the vaccine was introduced. This is normal and is due to the fact that the child is trying to relieve pain by reducing the load on the limb. He can limp until the pain syndrome passes completely.

If the baby is lame for more than 4-5 days, inform the pediatrician.

At the injection site, the temperature of the reddened surface rises due to an abundant rush of blood. An inflammatory process begins, which disappears on its own and without complications on the tenth day. The vaccine is usually given in the thigh, not the buttock. There is a lot of adipose tissue in the baby's ass, which prevents the absorption of the solution: it stagnates and becomes the cause of the development of an abscess.

If the vaccine has entered the adipose tissue, then a seal is necessarily formed, which is called a bump. If, after DPT, a seal has formed at the injection site, combined with redness, you should seek help from a doctor. He will prescribe medications or tell you what lotions to apply to the injection site in order to increase blood flow and eliminate the bump.

A common measure against injection seals is an iodine mesh. A place with a bump is also recommended to be treated with a solution of magnesia. But you can start treatment only on the recommendation of a pediatrician.

You should not take action on your own if you find a bump in a child after DTP vaccination. This can harm the baby and make the pain worse.

Changes in baby's behavior

Even in the vaccination room, children begin to cry a lot. From this point on, parents are encouraged to observe the child's behavior to determine if there are any complications. The baby will often grab the injection site and sob, showing that he is in pain. But do not allow him to touch the leg with his bare hands: if an infection gets in, then a seal or bump will definitely form, and other symptoms of inflammation will appear.

Sometimes parents note that after vaccination the child became very restless. Perhaps he lacks care and a sense of security. To calm the baby, hug him, talk, and then consult with the pediatrician. He will prescribe sedatives or recommend drinking decoctions of herbs that have a sedative effect on the nervous system.

Also, children may react differently to the vaccine: they become lethargic and sleepy. You don’t need to do anything, just surround the baby with love and care. Parents are often interested in how many days this condition of the baby can last. Usually the behavior of the child is normalized after three days, and if the restlessness or lethargy is prolonged, a medical examination is necessary.

Vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite

Loss of appetite is very common and should not cause parents to panic. Appetite usually returns three days after vaccination. The refusal of the baby from food for four or more days should alert. Make sure your child drinks well.

Every tenth child after DTP vaccination experiences vomiting and diarrhea. To prevent dehydration, the baby is provided with plenty of fluids and be sure to call a doctor at home.

Side effects of moderate severity after DTP vaccination

Moderate side effects include:

  1. convulsive events,
  2. loud crying that lasts more than 3 hours
  3. temperature rise to 39.5 degrees or more.

Such consequences of DTP vaccination are serious and require medical supervision. With the development of any of the side effects of moderate severity, immediately inform the pediatrician or call an ambulance. Most likely, there is nothing serious, but precautions must always be observed.

Convulsive phenomena

Seizures after DTP vaccination occurs in one in 14,500 children. They are of two types:

  1. Febrile. Characteristic when the temperature rises to 38 degrees and above. Observed only in the first three days after vaccination.
  2. Afebrile. These are convulsions caused by damage to the nervous system of an organic nature. Observed at normal body temperature, or if it is not higher than 38 degrees (subfebrile).

With convulsive phenomena, medical supervision and assistance is necessary. This will allow timely identification of disorders of the nervous system and prevent other, more severe consequences for children.

strong crying

Tears and screaming in children begin immediately after the introduction of the vaccine. Usually, babies calm down quickly after contact with their mother, but sometimes crying drags on for several hours, as happens in one case in a thousand. During a tantrum, the child makes frequent and deep exhalations, as a result of which cerebral hypoxia may develop, which causes a severe headache.

Parents should be alerted by the crying of the child if it continues for three or more hours. In this state, the child's body quickly evaporates moisture, which threatens with dehydration. Therefore, you need to do everything possible so that the child stops crying as soon as possible. Try to calm the baby and offer him to drink warm water more often.

Children may cry a little, but often: this happens after a complication and the appearance of a painful induration at the injection site. Tears well up in the eyes every time the baby experiences pain in the bump. This is a natural reaction by which the child shows his condition. But if the crying is not continuous, then this is not a cause for concern.

Very high body temperature (from 39.5)

One in 15,000 children develops a body temperature of 39.5 degrees or more after vaccination. This is an occasion to call an ambulance and invite a pediatrician to the house. Before providing medical assistance, follow the rules:

  • Don't use an alcohol compress.
  • On the advice of a doctor, try to bring down the temperature.
  • Provide your child with plenty of warm fluids.
  • Do not wrap your baby to ensure heat dissipation.

Often parents have a question about how long a high temperature can last after vaccination. Medical workers claim that if it is caused by the DTP vaccine, then no more than three days. If the cause of the temperature increase was an infection, then it can last more than 3 days. But in any case, it is necessary to keep the child under medical supervision.

What complications can be after DTP vaccination

Severe complications of DTP vaccination include: allergies to vaccine components and neuralgic disorders.

Side effects should be distinguished from complications. Side effects are relatively common, and they do not pose a threat to health. After a few days, they pass on their own without consequences, which may be after the complications.

Allergic reaction

With a frequency of one case per million, there are complications in the form of an allergy, the consequences of which can be:

  • hives,
  • angioedema,
  • anaphylactic shock.

A mild form of allergy in the form of urticaria is more common. A rash of red bumps-pimples forms on the baby's body. She poses no danger to children. Usually, after vaccination, the attending physician recommends taking antihistamines, which eliminate the body's allergic reaction to the introduction of foreign bodies.

Quincke's edema is a giant urticaria, accompanied by swelling of the dermis and subcutaneous fat. The greatest danger lies in the swelling of the larynx. If swelling is found, call an ambulance immediately.

The most serious complication is anaphylactic shock. It develops 20-30 minutes after the introduction of the vaccine. The first symptoms: headache, noises, itching, feeling of anxiety and fear, cold sweat and even loss of consciousness. The actions of the parents - calling an ambulance to provide emergency medical care.

If anaphylactic shock began to develop away from medical centers, you need to provide first aid yourself. The life of the child will depend on this:

  1. The baby is placed in a horizontal position so that the head is slightly tilted down. This is necessary for blood flow to the brain.
  2. Since vomiting is possible, the head is held by turning it to one side. Otherwise, the vomit may enter the respiratory tract.
  3. If the tongue sinks, it must be fixed. Otherwise, suffocation is possible.
  4. The injured child is kept warm and provided with fresh air.

Independently taken measures are not a reason for refusing medical care.

Neuralgic disorders

Complications in the form of damage to the nervous system after DTP are so rare that they are not commonly associated with vaccination. However, Dr. Low notes that in 75 cases out of 1000 DTP gives a slight brain reaction that goes unnoticed and without a trace. Then the question arises of how many cases of serious lesions of the nervous system occur. The question cannot be answered precisely because there are no statistics available. But isolated cases in medical practice take place.

The development of post-vaccination encephalitis occurs in exceptional cases. A complication is characterized by a violation of blood vessels in the form of hemorrhages, stasis or plethora.

In the future, this leads to dystrophy or complete death of neurons - nerve cells. Post-vaccination encephalitis develops 3-5 days after vaccination. Symptoms of the disease:

  1. heat,
  2. immobility,
  3. convulsive syndrome,
  4. vomit,
  5. increase in coma.

With focal brain damage, hyperkinesis, paresis of the limbs, convulsions, aphasia, and damage to the cranial nerves are possible. After DPT, cerebral edema is possible, in exceptional cases, decerebration and decortication are observed. When lesions of the nervous system are detected, it is often noted that immediately after the introduction of the vaccine, the child had a piercing cry. It is believed that its cause is intracranial hypertension.

Finally

It is worth remembering that the child will always respond to the introduction of the DTP vaccine. In most cases, the reaction manifests itself in the form of mild and moderate side effects. But in isolated cases (one in a million or less), serious consequences are possible with a threat to life for the child. Therefore, the main task of parents is to carefully monitor the condition of the baby in the post-vaccination period for the timely detection and elimination of the consequences of vaccination.