The consequences of various kinds of vaccinations. Adverse reactions and complications to vaccinations

Unfortunately, after vaccinations, side effects in children are not uncommon. Adverse reactions after vaccination can be both local and general. There are also frequent cases of allergic reactions to vaccinations, and the most severe of them (for example, anaphylactic shock and collapse) require resuscitation measures. What consequences of vaccinations can manifest themselves in children - you will find out on this page.

Adverse reactions of the body to the introduction of the antigen

Vaccine- this is an immunobiological active drug that causes certain changes in the body - Desirable, with the aim of forming the immunity of the vaccinated to this infection, and undesirable, that is, side reactions.

The term "adverse reactions" is used to denote unwanted reactions of the body that are not the purpose of vaccination, which occurred after vaccination.

What reactions after vaccinations can occur? Types of reactions to vaccinations are usually divided into local, occurring at the injection site (redness, soreness, induration), and general, that is, those that affect the entire body as a whole - fever, malaise, etc.

In general, the side effects of vaccination are a normal reaction of the body to the introduction of a foreign antigen, and in most cases they reflect the process of developing immunity. (For example, an increase in body temperature.)

If the side effects of vaccination are not severe, then in general this is even a sign that is favorable in terms of developing immunity. For example, a small induration that occurs at the site of vaccination with a hepatitis B vaccine indicates the activity of the process of developing immunity, which means that the vaccinated person will be really protected from infection.

Usually, side effects in children on vaccinations with inactivated vaccines (DTP, ATP, hepatitis B) occur on the 1-2nd day after vaccination and disappear on their own, without treatment, within 1-2 days. After inoculation with live vaccines, reactions may appear later, on the 2nd-10th day, and also pass without treatment.

The frequency of reactions after vaccination in children is well studied. It is no secret that the rubella vaccine, which has been used abroad for more than 30 years, causes approximately 5% of all reactions. The hepatitis B vaccine, which has been used for more than 15 years, causes about 7% of local reactions.

Local adverse reactions to vaccinations

Possible reactions to a local vaccination include redness, induration, soreness, swelling, which are significant and significant. Also, local reactions include urticaria and an increase in lymph nodes adjacent to the injection site.

The greater the volume of foreign substances introduced, the greater the strength of the inflammation. Numerous clinical trials of vaccines involving control groups, when ordinary water for injection was administered as a control drug, showed that even this “drug” causes local reactions, and at a frequency close to that of the experimental group where the vaccines were administered. That is, the injection itself is the cause of local reactions to a certain extent.

Sometimes vaccines are designed to deliberately cause local effects after vaccination in children. We are talking about the inclusion in the composition of vaccines of special substances that are designed to cause inflammation so that more cells of the immune system "get acquainted" with the vaccine antigen. This is done so that the strength of the immune response is higher.

Examples of such vaccines are DTP, DTP, hepatitis A and B. Usually adjuvants are used in inactivated vaccines, since the immune response to live vaccines is already quite strong.

The way vaccines are administered also affects the number of local reactions. All injectable vaccines are best administered intramuscularly, and not in the buttock (you can get into the sciatic nerve or subcutaneous fat).

Muscles are much better supplied with blood, the vaccine is better absorbed, the strength of the immune response is greater. In children under 2 years of age, the best place for vaccination is the anterolateral surface of the thigh in its middle third.

Children over two years of age and adults are best grafted into the deltoid muscle of the shoulder. The injection is made from the side, at an angle of 90 degrees to the surface of the skin. With subcutaneous administration of vaccines, the frequency of local reactions (redness, induration) will obviously be higher, and the absorption of vaccines and, as a result, the immune response may be lower than with intramuscular administration.

Common adverse reactions to vaccinations

A rash can be a common consequence after vaccination. Why does a rash appear after vaccination? There are three possible reasons - the reproduction of the vaccine virus in the skin, an allergic reaction, increased bleeding that occurred after vaccination.

A mild, transient rash (caused by the replication of the vaccine virus in the skin) is a normal common adverse reaction to vaccination with live virus vaccines such as measles, mumps, and rubella.

A pinpoint rash that occurs due to increased bleeding (for example, in rare cases, there is a temporary decrease in the number of platelets after) can reflect both a temporary lesion of the blood coagulation system and be a reflection of a more serious pathology, such as hemorrhagic vasculitis (an autoimmune lesion of the walls of blood vessels), and be already a post-vaccination complication.

An increase in body temperature up to 40 ° C is usually attributed to a special type of severe adverse reactions. Such reactions, along with complications, are subject to strict reporting and must be reported to vaccine quality control authorities.

If there are many such reactions, then this series of vaccine is withdrawn from use and subject to repeated quality control.

With the introduction of live vaccines, almost complete reproduction of a natural infection in a weakened form is sometimes possible. An illustrative example of vaccination against measles, when on the 5-10th day after vaccination, a specific post-vaccination reaction is possible, characterized by an increase in body temperature, symptoms of acute respiratory infections, a kind of rash - all this is classified as "vaccinated measles".

Allergic reactions to vaccinations in children and other complications

In contrast to adverse reactions, vaccination complications are undesirable and rather severe conditions that occur after vaccination. For example, a sharp drop in blood pressure (anaphylactic shock) as a manifestation of an immediate allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine. Anaphylactic shock and collapse require resuscitation.

Other examples of the negative effects of vaccinations are convulsions, neurological disorders, allergic reactions of varying severity, etc.

Post-vaccination complications are extremely rare. The frequency of such a complication as measles vaccine encephalitis is 1 in 5-10 million vaccinations, generalized BCG infection that occurs when BCG is administered incorrectly is 1 in 1 million vaccinations; vaccine-associated poliomyelitis - 1 per 1-1.5 million doses of OPV administered.

With the infections themselves, against which vaccinations protect, these same complications occur with a frequency that is orders of magnitude greater.

Unlike post-vaccination reactions, complications rarely depend on the composition of vaccines, and their main causes are considered to be:

• violation of vaccine storage conditions (overheating for a long time, hypothermia and freezing of vaccines that cannot be frozen);
• violation of the vaccine administration technique (especially important for BCG, which must be administered strictly intradermally);
• violation of the instructions for administering the vaccine (from non-compliance with contraindications up to the introduction of an oral vaccine intramuscularly);
• individual characteristics of the body (unexpectedly strong allergic reaction in children to vaccination with repeated administration of the vaccine);
• accession of infection - purulent inflammation at the injection site and infection, in the incubation period of which vaccination was carried out.

The article has been read 5,731 times.

In our country, there is a national vaccination calendar, which is regularly reviewed. It contains information about vaccinations recommended by the Ministry of Health, along with the child's age when they should be given. Some vaccinations are quite difficult for children to tolerate, primarily DPT.

DPT vaccination is included in the list of mandatory vaccinations

What diseases are vaccinated against?

DPT is a complex vaccination designed to protect a small patient from three dangerous diseases at the same time: whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus. Vaccination does not always exclude infection, but contributes to the mild course of the disease and protects against the development of dangerous consequences.

Whooping cough is an acute respiratory disease characterized by paroxysmal spasmodic cough. It is transmitted by airborne droplets, the probability of infection by contact (contagiousness) is 90%. The infection is especially dangerous for children under one year old, up to death. Since the introduction of immunization of the population, the incidence of whooping cough has decreased significantly.

Diphtheria is an infectious disease that can cause blockage of the airways with a film. It is transmitted by airborne droplets and household contact (skin forms). According to the severity of the disease, children are in a special risk group.

Tetanus is an acute bacterial infection that affects the nervous system, manifesting itself in the form of convulsions and muscle tension in the body. The disease has a traumatic way of infection: wounds, burns, frostbite, operations. Mortality from tetanus today is about 40% of the total number of cases.

Types of vaccine

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know from me how to solve exactly your problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!

On the territory of our country it is allowed to use several types of DTP vaccines. In polyclinics serving the population under compulsory medical insurance, they use the domestic DPT vaccine produced by NPO Microgen. It contains diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, as well as killed pertussis cells - that is, the drug is whole-cell.

Pertussis infection is most dangerous before the age of 1 year, so children older than this age are allowed to use ADS and ADS-M vaccinations. These are lightweight versions of the vaccine that do not contain the pertussis component. Given that it is this component that most often causes allergies in children, ADS is especially indicated for allergy sufferers.

In the district clinic, you can also get an imported vaccination, but at your own expense. Similar services are provided by various private clinics and centers.

Foreign analogues approved for use in Russia:

• Infanrix (Belgium, GlaxoSmithKline) is a cell-free vaccine, due to which there are practically no post-vaccination reactions and complications. It has been used all over the world for 10 years, the effectiveness has been confirmed by numerous studies, immunity is formed in more than 88% of those vaccinated. In Russia, she passed the examination in GISK them. Academician Tarasevich. Other injectable vaccines can be administered simultaneously with Infanrix.

• Pentaxim (France, Sanofi Pasteur) is a five-component immunization preparation that protects, in addition to whooping cough, deftheria and tetanus, from poliomyelitis and meningococcal infection. Such a vaccine significantly reduces the number of vaccinations (eliminates the separate administration of a substance against polio). Pentaxim may be administered simultaneously with the hepatitis B, measles, rubella, and mumps vaccine. If the first dose was administered to a child over the age of one year, then the rest are done without a hemophilic component. The vaccine is well tolerated and is widely used worldwide, in 71 countries. Registered in Russia since 2008. According to the results of studies, the effectiveness of immunization against whooping cough reaches 99% (after three injections, without delay).

Earlier, another whole-cell vaccine Tetracoccus produced in France was presented, but due to the frequent development of complications, it was discontinued. Imported vaccines without a pertussis component are not registered in Russia, and therefore are not used.

It is worth noting that, according to indications, foreign vaccines should be provided in polyclinics free of charge. The list of diseases is constantly changing, so you need to check with your pediatrician or call your insurance company.

Preparing your child for vaccination

Regardless of which DPT vaccination the child will be given, it must first be examined.

Before immunization, it is imperative to take blood and urine tests, measure the temperature of the child.

If the baby is to receive the initial vaccine, or neurological reactions were noted to the previous ones, you should obtain permission from a neurologist. Any manifestations of diseases are the basis for the transfer of vaccination.

Due to the fact that doctors often neglect pre-vaccination examinations, parents should be vigilant. This will help to avoid severe complications from DTP.

A few days before the manipulation, it is not recommended to introduce new foods into the baby's diet. Allergy-prone children are advised to “cover up” vaccination with an antihistamine (anti-allergic) drug. Usually the medicine is given a few days before and after vaccination.

How is the breast vaccination done?

Usually, during vaccination, parents hold the baby in their arms, having previously freed the necessary part of the body from clothing. The nurse wipes the injection site with a disinfectant and administers the injection. Vaccination is an unpleasant procedure, therefore, after the injection, it is recommended to give the child a breast so that he calms down faster.

Vaccination Schedule

The full course of immunization consists of 3 vaccinations. The first injection is given to a child at 3 months. Two subsequent ones with an interval of 1.5 months each, and revaccination is performed a year later. The second revaccination is carried out at the age of 6-7 years, the third at 14 years and then every 10 years. According to medical indications, an individual schedule can be drawn up.

Where and how should a physician give an injection?

According to the recommendations of the WHO (World Health Organization), preschool children are vaccinated in the thigh. This is also confirmed by the Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 52 “On the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population”, which clearly states that intramuscular injections are administered to children of the first years of life exclusively in the upper outer surface of the thigh. Starting from school age, vaccinations are given in the shoulder area (we recommend reading:).

Care after vaccination

Special care after vaccination is not required, most children tolerate it absolutely normally. Walking and swimming on the day of vaccination are not contraindicated, however, for their peace of mind, parents can refrain from them. If side effects occur after vaccination, a walk should be excluded.

After DTP vaccination, the main thing is to carefully monitor the child for several days. It is worth paying attention to any unusual behavior of the baby - tearfulness, drowsiness and monitor body temperature.

Normal baby reaction to vaccination

Post-vaccination complications include side effects that begin in a child within three days after vaccination, although the vast majority of symptoms appear in the first 24 hours. What kind of reaction the child will have and how long it will last depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. The reaction to vaccination is general and local.

Local manifestations of the reaction

A local reaction to DTP is of the following types:

• Induration at the injection site. This can happen as a result of getting part of the vaccine under the skin, or be a reaction of the body to its composition. To get rid of swelling as soon as possible, absorbable gels and ointments, for example, Lyoton, Troxevasin, Badyaga, will help.
• Redness around the injection site. If the spot is small, then nothing needs to be done - it will pass on its own.
• Urticaria around the injection site indicates an allergic reaction. In this case, it is worth giving the child an antihistamine. Additionally, you can anoint the inflamed areas with an anti-allergic gel, for example, Fenistil.
• Soreness at the injection site. It happens that after the introduction of DTP, the baby complains of pain in the leg, limps and does not step on the foot. To alleviate the condition, you can apply cold to the sore spot. The pain should subside after a while, otherwise you should consult a doctor.

The photo shows a reaction at the site of DPT vaccination in a child. Such swelling is acceptable and does not require medical attention.

General condition of the body

Common reactions to vaccination include:

• Increase in body temperature. In this case, it is worth giving the child an antipyretic drug "Paracetamol" or "Ibuprofen".
• The cough may be caused by the whooping cough component. Usually goes away on its own. Any other catarrhal phenomena, most likely, are not complications of DPT, but indicate the development of a respiratory disease. Often it turns out that weakened immunity (the body is busy producing antibodies for vaccination) is superimposed by viruses accidentally picked up in the clinic on the day of vaccination.
• Capriciousness, restlessness, refusal to eat. When such symptoms appear, the baby should be offered a breast, the older child should be given a drink and put to bed, probably the baby was just nervous (more in the article:).

If, despite the observance of preventive measures, it was not possible to avoid a reaction after vaccination, it is necessary to act in accordance with the symptoms that arise.

Although the DTP vaccine is considered one of the most difficult for a child's body, the consequences usually disappear within a few days.

The main task of parents is not to miss the really alarming symptoms and consult a doctor in time.

When should you see a doctor?

It is necessary to seek medical help in the following cases:

• unbreakable temperature above 39°C;
• high-pitched crying for a long time (longer than 2-3 hours);
• profuse swelling at the injection site - more than 8 cm in diameter;
• severe allergic reaction - angioedema, anaphylactic shock, shortness of breath;
• cyanosis of the skin, convulsions.

Serious complications after vaccination

Serious side effects after vaccination are extremely rare, less than 1 case per 100,000 vaccinated children. The main reason for such consequences is the negligent attitude of the doctor when examining a baby before vaccination.

These complications include:

• The appearance of convulsions without an increase in body temperature. This symptom is accompanied by damage to the central nervous system.
• Postvaccinal encephalitis. The disease begins with a sharp rise in temperature, vomiting, headache. As with meningoencephalitis, a characteristic feature is the tension of the occipital muscles. The condition may be accompanied by an attack of epilepsy. There is damage to the cerebral membranes.
• Anaphylactic shock is a rapid allergic reaction accompanied by severe edema, a sharp drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing, cyanosis of the skin, and sometimes fainting. Lethal outcome occurs in 20% of cases.
• Quincke's edema is another type of reaction to an allergen, also characterized by severe swelling of the skin or mucous membranes. The greatest danger is edema of the respiratory tract.

Contraindications

are absolute contraindications.

The best way to beat a disease is to never have it. It is for this purpose that children, starting from birth, are given appropriate vaccinations, which in the future (sometimes throughout life!) Protect the child from the most dangerous and serious diseases. However, the vaccination itself can sometimes cause negative reactions or complications in the baby. What should I do if my child feels unwell after the vaccination?

In most cases, children after vaccination feel exactly the same as before it. But sometimes there are cases of general and local reactions that often frighten parents. But in vain! Let's explain why...

What vaccinations are given to children

Vaccination, from the moment of its "invention" to this day, is the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases, often deadly.

According to the National Immunization Schedule, in our time in all regions of Russia, children (in the absence of obvious contraindications to vaccination) are given the following vaccines:

• 1 On the first day after birth - the first vaccination against viral hepatitis B;
• 2 On the 3rd-7th day of life -;
• 3 At 1 month - the second vaccination against viral hepatitis B;
• 4 At 2 months - the first vaccination against pneumococcal infection
• 5 At 3 months - the first vaccination against tetanus, whooping cough and diphtheria () and the first vaccination against polio;
• 6 At 4.5 months - the second vaccination with DTP, the second vaccination against pneumococcal infection and the second vaccination against polio;
• 7 At 6 months - the third vaccination against viral hepatitis B, the third vaccination with DTP and the third vaccination against polio;
• 8 At the age of 1 year, rubella and mumps are carried out.
• 9 At 15 months - revaccination against pneumococcal infection;
• 10 At 18 months - the first revaccination against polio and the first revaccination against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus;
• 11 At 20 months - the second revaccination against polio;
• 12 At 6 years old - revaccination against measles, rubella, mumps;
• 13 At the age of 6-7 years, a second revaccination against diphtheria and tetanus is carried out, as well as a revaccination against tuberculosis;
• 14 At the age of 14, children receive a third booster against diphtheria and tetanus, and a third booster against polio.

Since any vaccine in childhood is a certain stress for a fragile child's body, you need to be prepared for possible complications. However, even the potentially probable negative consequences for a child after vaccination are still ten times less serious than the consequences of infection with any of the listed diseases.

Parents should understand that there is a huge difference between reactions to a vaccine and complications after vaccination.

Often a child after vaccination does not show signs of illness and complications to the vaccine, but only a reaction to the vaccine. Moreover, the symptoms of this reaction can be frightening for parents, but at the same time completely normal from the point of view of doctors.

What is the meaning of the concept of "reaction to the vaccine"

Two very important concepts are usually associated with vaccines and their components - vaccine immunogenicity and reactogenicity. The first characterizes the ability of the vaccine to produce antibodies. Simply put, some vaccines can “force” the body to develop proper protection after the first vaccination (which means that these vaccines are highly immunogenic), while others have to be repeated in order to reach the required amount of antibodies (which means that such vaccines have low immunogenicity) .

But the vaccine never consists of only one component - the antigen necessary for the production of antibodies (immunity). In addition to it, the vaccine usually includes a number of "side" components - for example, cell fragments, all kinds of substances that help stabilize the vaccine, etc.

It is these components that can cause all sorts of adverse reactions in the child's body after vaccination (for example: fever, induration at the injection site, redness of the skin, nausea and loss of appetite, and others). The totality of these potentially possible reactions is called the word “vaccine reactogenicity”.

The ideal vaccine is one with the highest possible immunogenicity and the lowest possible reactogenicity. A classic example of such a vaccine is the polio vaccine: its reactogenicity is close to zero, and the child feels just as good after vaccination as before vaccination.

Reactions in a child after vaccination may be:

• general(fever, loss of appetite, weakness, slight rash on the child's body, etc.);
• local(when exactly at the site of the introduction of the vaccine into the child's body, after vaccination, one or another reaction appeared - redness, induration, irritation, and others).

Often, those reactions after vaccination that ordinary parents usually consider negative (reddening of the skin, for example, at the injection site) are actually a positive factor in the effect of the vaccine.

And there is a scientific explanation for this: often, in order to achieve maximum immunogenicity of a particular vaccine, a certain temporary inflammatory process in the body is necessary. And for the sake of it, special substances - adjuvants - are specially added to many modern vaccines. These substances cause a local inflammatory process at the injection site, thereby attracting the maximum possible number of immune cells to the vaccine itself.

And any inflammatory process, even the smallest one, can cause fever, lethargy and loss of appetite and other temporary symptoms. Which in the context of the vaccination carried out is considered to be acceptable.

Local reactions after vaccination in a child may not go away for a long time - for example, induration and redness at the injection site may resolve up to 2 months. However, this situation does not require any treatment, except for time and patience on the part of the parents.

Recall: the difference between the reaction to the vaccine (even if it seems negative in the layman's view) and the complication after vaccination is colossal.

The reaction in a child after vaccination is always a predictable and temporary phenomenon. For example, almost all children (about 78 out of 100) react to the DPT vaccine - they either have a fever in the first days after vaccination, or lethargy and loss of appetite appear, etc. And doctors, as a rule, warn parents about this change in the child's well-being after vaccination, indicating that such a reaction will certainly go away on its own after 4-5 days.

Relatively poor health (anxiety, fever, loss of appetite, poor sleep, moodiness and tearfulness) usually, if it happens in a baby, then, as a rule, in the first three days after vaccination and normally can last from 1 to 5 days. If the child is “sick” for more than five days after vaccination, it is necessary to seek medical help.

And one more fundamentally important point: no matter how negative in your, parental, understanding, the reaction to the first vaccination (the same DPT or polio vaccination, which are always done not immediately, but at intervals in time), is not a reason to cancel subsequent vaccinations . Indeed, in the vast majority of cases, these reactions are acceptable and are temporary.

It will take only 3-4 days after vaccination and the temperature will return to normal, the baby will again eat vigorously and sleep soundly. And even if the baby’s poor health scared you during these 3-4 days, this is still not a reason to “give up” with vaccination ...

What is the risk of complications after vaccination?

Quite another matter - complications after vaccination. They are always more severe than just the body's reactions to the vaccine, and they are always unpredictable, just like the first allergy attack is unpredictable.

Indeed, there are extremely rare cases from time to time when the child's body demonstrates a clear intolerance to one or another component of the vaccine. thereby provoking the occurrence of complications.

Unfortunately, medical science has not yet come up with a way to carry out some preliminary tests with which one or another rare intolerance to a given vaccine could be detected in a child.

The occurrence of complications in a child on the introduction of a particular vaccine depends solely on the individual characteristics of the organism of this child, and in no way depends on the vaccine. While the likelihood of reactions and their severity, on the contrary, largely depends on the quality of the vaccination. In other words, by buying more expensive, modern, purified vaccines for their child, parents certainly reduce the risk of general and local reactions after vaccination. But, alas, this does not guarantee the absence of complications - it can be in any case.

However, there is no reason to panic and refuse vaccination altogether, fearing complications. Because according to statistics, the risk of getting a complication after vaccination is still hundreds of times less than getting a dangerous infection without being vaccinated.

But on the other hand, if, for example, during the first vaccination against poliomyelitis, a child has a complication, then this is a direct contraindication to all subsequent similar vaccinations.

Child after vaccination: do not panic!

So, briefly and concisely - about what should and should not be done with the child in the first days after vaccination, in order to exclude as much as possible.

What can and should be done after vaccination:

• Walking in the fresh air is not only possible, but necessary!
• But you should avoid common areas (that is, for 3-5 days, walk not on the playground, but in the park, do not visit supermarkets, banks, libraries, clinics, etc. with the baby);
• If the temperature rises - give an antipyretic: paracetamol and ibuprofen (but do not give medication prophylactically!);
• You can definitely swim.

"Is it possible to bathe a child after vaccination or not?" is one of the most popular questions parents ask pediatricians. Yes, definitely possible!

What not to do after vaccination:

• Fundamentally change your lifestyle (namely, neglect walking and swimming);
• Give the baby antipyretic drugs for preventive purposes (that is, even before his temperature starts to rise);
• Force the child to eat if he refuses to eat.

And most importantly, what the parents of the child are obliged to do in the first time after vaccination is to carefully monitor his condition. And also - patiently wait a few days in case of reactions of the body to vaccination, and do not hesitate to consult a doctor in case of complications.

When little Duce was six years old, she and her mother learned what Guillain-Barré syndrome is (the immune system affects the nervous system, which can lead to paralysis). Three weeks before Dusya was admitted to the hospital, the girl had been vaccinated against measles, rubella and mumps.

Officially, none of the doctors confirmed that such a disease was triggered by a vaccine. But the mother insists that in the discharge from the hospital, where the girl was taken with painful weakness in the muscles (she could not even hold a spoon in her hands), it is written that the cause of the disease is “the post-vaccination period of Priorix” (the same vaccine that the child was injected with earlier ).

Guillain-Barré syndrome is, fortunately, a treatable disease. But it is obvious that this family, like many others, will no longer have confidence in vaccinations.

Officially, the number of post-vaccination complications is growing. According to Rospotrebnadzor for January-August 2017, the number of complications after vaccination increased by 34% compared to the same period last year. At the same time, complications in children under 14 years of age increased by 28%.

In 20% of cases, complications arise due to an error by the medical staff when administering the drug. Other reasons are insufficient examination of patients (they do not detect allergies, chronic diseases, etc.), poor storage and transportation of vaccines, non-sterile conditions in medical rooms.

However, it cannot be said that vaccines massively cripple. In total, 165 cases of complications have been recorded since the beginning of 2017. At the same time, in recent years, the numbers have gradually decreased (in 2006-2012 there were 500-600 complications per year).

Doctors do not deny that vaccinations can cause complications, and very serious ones. But the likelihood that they will occur is very small, experts are convinced.

Substitution of concepts

In the topic of vaccination, there are two concepts - "adverse reaction after vaccination" and "complication after vaccination." And these are completely different things. As Aleksey Moskalenko, a DOC+ pediatrician, said, if these terms are not distinguished, then due to confusion, a negative attitude towards vaccinations often develops.

An adverse reaction is, in fact, an immune response to the introduction of a foreign antigen into the body. An adverse reaction can be local (occurring at the injection site - redness, swelling, induration, etc.) or general (fever, weakness, etc.), the pediatrician explained.

According to Moskalenko, adverse reactions after vaccination occur in about 10% of cases.

But post-vaccination complications (which Rospotrebnadzor just counted) are already serious complications that can threaten the health and even life of the patient. It can be anaphylactic shock, convulsions, paralysis, etc. But the likelihood of getting such severe consequences after an ordinary vaccination is very small.

On average, this probability is 0.2-0.5 cases per 100 thousand vaccinated children (one complication per 1 million vaccines administered). These conditions require immediate treatment and further observation by a doctor, because they can pose a danger to human life and health, - Alexey Moskalenko explained.

Triumph of anti-vaxxers

According to Mikhail Kostinov, head of the laboratory at the Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums, modern vaccines in most cases do not cause severe complications. There are more risky vaccinations - for example, a live vaccine (that is, with a live virus) may have more contraindications than an inactivated (dead) one. But it is impossible to talk about the mass nature of complications, the scientist is sure.

The increase in the number of complications, according to the expert, is associated with incorrect calculations.

Unfortunately, in our country there are no clear statistics on undesirable consequences after vaccinations. After all, there may be such a situation: the child was vaccinated, and in a few days his temperature will rise. This does not mean at all that this is a consequence of vaccination - the reason for the increase in temperature may be completely different. But, most likely, the parents will decide that this is all because of the vaccination, and the doctors can also support them. This is wrong, of course.- says the specialist.

According to Kostinov, incorrect statistics on post-vaccination complications can lead to the fact that parents simply get scared and refuse to be vaccinated. They can also be supported by "anti-vaccinators" - a social movement that disputes the effectiveness, safety and legality of vaccination.

The so-called anti-vaxxers cannot be taken seriously - these are people with an incomprehensible education, they do not have a single scientific work that would somehow confirm their arguments. And in the end, if vaccinations killed people, would the whole world really have used this tool for many years to protect the inhabitants of the Earth from serious diseases? - says the expert.

Vaccinations are a must, of course. They help to form the body's immunity and thanks to them it is possible to avoid possible epidemics, including those with a fatal outcome, - says pediatrician Alexei Moskalenko.

How to avoid complications

Pediatricians compare parents who are afraid to vaccinate their children to those who are afraid to fly. Yes, people die in plane crashes, but that's no reason to ban planes. There are complications from vaccinations, too, but in general, the benefits of them are much greater.

Pediatrician Tuyara Zakharova spoke about the precautions that must be taken to reduce the risk of complications.

Vaccination is always a planned event. If the child has a temperature or an allergy, then the date of the procedure must be postponed, she said. - Before vaccination, the pediatrician must examine the child, his condition, skin. If everything is in order, the doctor shows the parents the vial of the vaccine, its expiration date, and tells which vaccine will be administered.

According to Tuyara Zakharova, after vaccination, parents with a child need to stay in the clinic for half an hour. This precautionary measure is explained by the fact that if the child has any allergic reaction to the injection, he will be quickly provided with medical assistance.

Pediatrician Kirill Kalistratov says that "the main thing is to postpone the procedure for two weeks from the moment when the child had an infectious disease." And, of course, during epidemics, and even more so after vaccination, you should not visit crowded places where there are a lot of viruses. After all, the immune system of a child after vaccination is very busy: it fights against pathogens (against which it was vaccinated) and produces antibodies to them. You should not load it with the fight against infections that are found in shopping centers and subways.

What complications can occur after vaccinations in babies? A vaccine is the introduction of weakened (inactivated) or non-living microbes that pose a threat to the child's body, sometimes fatal. Vaccination promotes the production of antigens to various microbes, creates artificial immunity to a certain type and genus of dangerous bacteria. However, after vaccination, children have various complications that parents should be aware of.

Types of drugs

Before understanding the causes of a reaction to a vaccine, you should know about the composition of vaccines. The basis of the drug for immunization can be a different composition:

• live viruses;
• inactivated viruses;
• waste products of viruses;
• modified viruses;
• synthetic compounds;
• combination drugs.

Rules before immunization

Immunoglobulins stand apart, which are ready-made antibodies to the virus. Immunoglobulins are isolated from the plasma/serum of a donor previously tested for HIV and hepatitis B/C. Complications from immunoglobulin vaccinations have not been identified. The only reaction may be the incompatibility of protein components, but such cases are practically excluded.

General response to the vaccine

General complications from vaccinations are basically always the same with a few exceptions. For example, after the BCG anti-tuberculosis vaccine, the temperature does not rise, and after others, the rise in temperature is normal. Temperature is an indicator of the development of a protective barrier against the introduced viral material. Complications from vaccinations in children can be expressed in:

• general malaise and lethargy;
• increase in body temperature;
• negative reaction of the nervous system - whims;
• reactions at the injection site - itching, redness, induration.

These complications after vaccinations are acceptable and normal, they do not need special treatment. The changes that occur in the body of children after vaccination are unstable and last for a short period of time (three days). They are nothing more than a reaction to the functional effect of the drug.

Complications from local vaccinations (seals, redness) occur either due to incorrect injection technique, or due to poor-quality vaccine. There are also complications of vaccination in children if dirt gets into the wound. In this case, an abscess (suppuration) may appear, which should be treated immediately.

Important! Prevention of suppuration is a careful attitude to the injection site: it should not be rubbed when bathing, combed with fingers and smeared with ointments. After vaccination, it is allowed to make an iodine mesh for rapid resorption of the drug.

Severe complications

However, there are also severe complications after vaccinations, which are characterized by a strong disorder of the body and require hospitalization of the vaccinated. These complications after vaccination include:

• critical rise in temperature;
• allergic shock, angioedema;
• encephalopathy and meningitis;
• convulsions and paralysis;
• violation of the heart rhythm;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• prolonged cry of the baby (3 hours);
• CNS disorders.

The described pathological reaction after vaccination of children can be caused by various conditions and always requires diagnosis before treatment. As a rule, the causes of pathology are a violation of the conditions of vaccination or individual structural features of the child's body. In contrast to the functional response to the administered drug, complications from pathological vaccination are persistent and pose a threat, even death.

Reaction to certain types of drugs

a) Hepatitis B

This drug is administered a few hours after the birth of children, if there are no contraindications. Complications of vaccinations against hepatitis were not recorded. The usual reaction is a slight induration from the injection, a slight fever, and general weakness. This vaccine does not cause severe side effects.

b) BCG vaccination

This is the second vaccination given to children before being discharged home from the hospital. This vaccine is not a panacea for tuberculosis bacillus, but it helps the body to more easily endure the infection in case of illness. Tuberculosis is very dangerous precisely because of its complications for children under one year old.

A characteristic change after BCG vaccination is the formation of a papule and subsequently a scar at the injection site. The process of forming a protective barrier against Koch's wand takes a long period - a characteristic abscess with a crust appears at the injection site, and after healing - a scar.

After vaccination, hyperthermia, general malaise and loss of appetite may occur. However, you can sound the alarm only if a red seal appears around the pustule and a critical increase in body temperature. The abscess cannot be treated with iodine, rubbed with a sponge when bathing and tear off the crust.

c) Polio vaccination

Complications of polio vaccinations in children, subject to the rules of vaccination, have not been identified. In case of a critical change in the condition of the baby, you should contact your doctor.

d) DTP vaccination

This is the most alarming vaccine, because the body's reaction to it is difficult to predetermine. Complications of DTP vaccinations are accompanied by high fever, gastrointestinal upset, neurological pathologies and other unpleasant conditions of the baby.

Basically, the pertussis component of the vaccine causes a negative reaction. Therefore, secondary vaccination (revaccination) in some cases is given without a pertussis component. There is also a local reaction to the introduction of the vaccine - seals, redness and even pain when walking. If pathology is detected after DTP, you should contact your pediatrician.

e) MMR vaccine (measles/rubella/mumps)

This vaccination is very important for the well-being and health of children. After it, usually, complications do not appear if the technique of drug administration and immunization conditions are not violated. There may be small rashes on the body, a non-critical rise in temperature.

Important! For any pathology of the baby's condition, you should contact your pediatrician.

How to reduce the risk of complications?

Many mothers refuse to vaccinate their babies out of fear of vaccine complications. On the Internet, you can find stories about deaths, as well as about the disability of children after immunization. Is it really? In fact, complications from vaccinations appeared due to non-compliance with established immunization standards.

1. You can only vaccinate a healthy baby - this is the first rule of all.
2. You can vaccinate a baby with a chronic illness, but during the period of active remission (recovery) and in combination with prescribed drugs.
3. In the case of a past illness, a child can be immunized only after a two-week recovery period and after passing all the tests.
4. Before vaccination, the mother is obliged to tell the pediatrician in detail about all the ailments suffered by the baby over the past month / two, as well as sensitivity to allergens (if any).
5. Be sure to notify the pediatrician about traveling with the baby to another area (if any) or moving to a new place of residence - about any changes in the situation.
6. You can not take the child home immediately after vaccination, you need to be in the clinic for at least half an hour / hour.

Rules after immunization

1. After immunization, the baby's social circle should be limited to avoid possible infection with viruses (for a week).
2. To avoid the appearance of pathological seals, an iodine mesh should be made at the injection site (except for BCG).
3. You can bathe the field of all vaccinations, however, you should not rub the injection site with a sponge and supercool the baby during water procedures.
4. Walking with the baby after vaccination is possible only if the baby feels good and in good (not windy / rainy) weather.
5. You can not introduce new complementary foods after immunization (and before it) for at least a week.

Taking simple precautions will help your baby get through the immunization without any health risks. Parents have the right to write a withdrawal from vaccinations, but in this case, all responsibility for a possible infection with deadly viruses lies with them.