? for Docs (or anyone else who would know) about vaccine reactions

[jenjenfirenjen]

My DS had 3 vaccine shots yesterday (DTAP, MMR, and Varicella) and he has been throwing up all day. He has never had any kind of reaction to shots before. I forgot to get the reaction sheets from the ped and I can't find my old ones or much info online. I hate to call my ped on the weekend (her emergency number is her cell phone...can't just leave a message at the office) if there is nothing to worry about. So, is vomiting a normal reaction to these vaccines? TIA!

[bcky2]

it looks like this site may have what you are looking for. hth!

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00046738.htm

eta- i have looked some more and all i have found is soreness and slight fever and that is what my doc always told me the side effects may be. could there be a chance that he happened to pick up the stomach flu that is going around? does the site of the shot look funny at all?

here is more on the mmr
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=75727

on varicella
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=75731

dtap
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=75701

[jenjenfirenjen]

Thank you so much for all of that! DH had looked on CDC's website earlier and found basically the same info in your first link (which does say that vomiting can be a side effect of the DTAP shot...1 in 15...though DH's research said 1 in 50.) It's always possible DS caught a stomach bug. He's only had that twice before and he was always very lethargic and clingy but today he is acting totally normal other than the vomiting.

I don't know that it warrants calling the ped on the weekend at this point. I figure if he is still vomiting tomorrow I will call. Does that sound reasonable? I just don't know what to do. Do I keep trying to feed him today? He eats every time I offer but then throws up during the meal. I hate my baby being sick!

[bcky2]

if he is normal other then the throwing up i would probably wait 24 hours and see what happens. if it is a bug it should pass by then. if he shows any other signs or stops going pee i would call right away. i would keep offering liquids all day and such. from what i have been told, even if they throw up after they have something some of it still does get absorbed into the body. hopefully someone here will have a better answer for you.

if he is still sick tomorrow am or gets worse i would be on the phone asap!

[mamicka]

I don't have any additional knowledge about this but I wanted to say that I would definitely call my ped ASAP.

Hope your DS feels better soon.
Allison

[laurena]

My pediatrician always said to expect a little soreness and a bump at the site, maybe a low-grade fever and some fussiness. I'd call for throwing up just to be sure. But, I can be a little quick to call. However, I will say that I have a **very** strong reaction to tentanus vaccines, so that also makes me ultra paranoid when it comes to vaccine shot reactions.

Receiving a call to your emergency number goes with the job of being a doctor. No reason to feel guilty if your gut is telling you to call.

[mudder17]

Oh, no, poor Luke! :( I was going to respond to this before I fell asleep, but forgot! Sorry!

Becky found you some great information, and I agree with her--as long as he is "normal" other than the vomitting, I would wait 24 hours and then call. Kaya did have vomitting with a flu bug and she threw up for a full day, and although she looked mostly tired and slept a lot (her eyes looked less bright), she did respond to our questions and she nursed a lot. So she was really tired from the vomitting, but according to DH's aunt, not exactly lethargic. So we decided to wait 24 hours before we decided to call. If she had been refusing liquids or showed any signs of dehydration, though, or she was acting really lethargic, then we would have called right away, holiday or not (in our case, we would have had to bring her to the ER).

For the feedings, I would stick to water and crackers (basically what you might eat if you were sick) and stay away from Dairy (except BM, of course) and other more irritating foods.

I hope Luke feels better soon!

Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_4_Kaya+is.png
Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[chiqanita]

My twins were born 8/26/04 what a coinky-dink.
When my guys received those vaccines they didn't react right away, they reacted one week to the day later. I think it was the MMR. Fevers, vomiting, rashes, it worried me so. It was a weekend but I called Friday night, Sat morn, and Sunday because each day there was something new. The nurses on call were great and very patient with me. Could it be the Varicella? Isn't that one a new one for your DS? I think I asked to hold off on that one actually, until 18 months.

I would call if you're going to be worrying, it's not like you call every day or anything. Each time I said something has changed and I need advice.

Good luck and hope Luke feels better soon.

[jenjenfirenjen]

Thanks everyone for your responses. After his nap, Luke had some crackers and after refusing the drink the Liquilyte and begging for milk I gave him some. He kept that down and then ate a little dinner with more milk and has been snoozing for the last two hours so hopefully all is well.

DH did find some info that said that particularly with the 4th or 5th dose of DTAP that vomiting can be a side effect and I beleive this was Luke's 4th dose. So...

But I'm also starting to wonder if it was a stomach bug as I'm now starting to feel lousy. Of couse, this pregnancy has had me feeling crummy all along so who knows.

[brittone2]

Just a thought, but I'd also report it to VAERS, which is the system the FDA and CDC use to track adverse events from vaccines. Even if it isn't "serious" the only way for there to be accurate info about the risk of any side effects is if parents report it. It doesn't mean anything horrific happened, but I'd want it documented. Many peds and families never report such side effects so it is hard to have an accurate number of how many times these things occur. There are physicians that don't even know about VAERS.

You can submit the info online and it helps the CDC/FDA track adverse events. It will help others to have more accure info about vaccine safety/side effects in the future.

https://secure.vaers.org/VaersDataEntryintro.htm

I hope your little guy is feeling better soon.