After the shots. what to do if your child has discomfort

After the Shots ● ● ●
What to do if your child has discomfort
Your child may need extra love and care after getting vaccinated. Some vaccinationsthat protect children from serious diseases also can cause discomfort for a while.
Here are answers to questions many parents have after their children have beenvaccinated. If this sheet doesn't answer your questions, call your clinic or healthcare provider. Clinic or health care provider phone number: Vaccinations may hurt a little . . . I think my child has a fever. What should I do?
Check your child’s temperature to find out if there is a fever. Do not use a mercury thermometer. If your child is younger than 3 years of age, taking a temperature with a rectal digital thermometer provides the best reading.
Once your child is 4 or 5 years of age, you may prefer taking a temperature by mouth with an oral digital thermometer. Tympanic thermometers, which measure temperature inside the ear, are another option for older babies and Call your clinic right aw
er “yes” to any of the
children. If your child is older than 3 months of age, you can also take an ing questions:
underarm (axillary) temperature, although it is not as accurate.
Here are some things you can do to help reduce fever:
• Give your child plenty to drink.
• Clothe your child lightly. Do not cover or wrap your child tightly.
• Give your child a fever-reducing medication such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil®, Motrin®). Do not give aspirin.
Recheck your child's temperature after 1 hour.
• Sponge your child in 1–2 inches of lukewarm water.
• If your child's temperature is _____°F (_____°C) or higher or, if you have questions, call your clinic or health care provider.
My child has been fussy since getting vaccinated.
What should I do?
After vaccination, children may be fussy due to pain or fever. You may want to give your child a medication such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil®, Motrin®) to reduce pain and fever. Do not give aspirin. If your child is fussy for more than
24 hours, call your clinic or health care provider.
My child’s leg or arm is swollen, hot, and red. What should I do?
• Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the sore area for comfort.
• For pain, give a medication such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®) or ibuprofen Check the back of this page
(e.g., Advil®, Motrin®). Do not give aspirin.
for information on the proper
dosage of medication you
• If the redness or tenderness increases after 24 hours, call your clinic or health can give your child to reduce
pain or fe
My child seems really sick. Should I call my health care provider?
If you are worried at all about how your child looks or feels, call your clinic or
health care provider!
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4015.pdf • Item #P4015 (9/04) Immunization Action Coalition • 1573 Selby Avenue • St. Paul, MN 55104 • (651) 647-9009 • www.immunize.org Medications and Dosages to Reduce Pain and Fever
Important notes:
1. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist which formulation is best for your child.
2. Give dose based on your child's weight. If you don't know the weight, give dose based on your child's age.
Do not give more medication than recommended.
3. If you have questions about dosing or any other concern, call your clinic or health care provider.
4. Always use a proper measuring device. For example: • When giving infant drops, use only the dosing device (dropper or syringe) enclosed in the package.
• When giving children's suspension or liquid, use the dosage cup enclosed in the package. If you misplace the dosage cup, consult your health care provider or pharmacist for advice. (Kitchen spoons are not accurate measures.) 5. WARNING: If you're also giving your child over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as cold preparations, be
aware that these may contain pain or fever reducers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Be sure to read all OTCmedication labels carefully to ensure your child is not receiving more acetaminophen or ibuprofen than recommended.
Acetaminophen Dosing Information (Tylenol® or another brand)
Give every 4–6 hours, as needed, no more than 5 times in 24 hours (unless directed to do otherwise by your health care provider).
Infant drops
Children's liquid or
Children's
Weight of child
suspension
strength
Ibuprofen Dosing Information (Advil®, Motrin® or another brand)
Give every 6–8 hours, as needed, no more than 4 times in 24 hours (unless directed to do otherwise by your health care provider).
Infant drops
Children's liquid or
Children's
Weight of child
suspension
strength
Immunization Action Coalition: www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4015.pdf

Source: http://www.bfpclinic.com/images/wmimages/OnlineForms/2%20Month%20After%20the%20shots.pdf