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

After the
What to do if your child has discomfort
I think my child has a fever. What should I do?
Check your child’s temperature to find out if there is a fever. An easy way
Your child may need extra love and care to do this is by taking a temperature in the armpit using an electronic ther- after getting vaccinated. Some vaccinations mometer (or by using the method of temperature-taking your healthcare that protect children from serious diseases provider recommends). If your child has a temperature that your healthcare also can cause discomfort for a while. provider has told you to be concerned about or if you have questions, call Here are answers to questions many parents have after their children have been vac­cinated. If this sheet doesn’t answer your Here are some things you can do to help reduce fever:
questions, call your healthcare provider. Vaccinations may hurt a little . . .
n Dress your child lightly. Do not cover or wrap your child tightly.
but disease can hurt a lot!
n Give your child a fever- or pain-reducing medicine such as acetamino- phen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin). The dose you give your child should be based on your child’s weight and your heathcare provider’s instructions. See the dose chart on page 2. Do not give aspirin. Recheck your child’s temperature after 1 hour. Call your healthcare Call your healthcare provider right
away if you answer “yes” to any of
the following questions:
My child has been fussy since getting vaccinated. What should
I do?
After vaccination, children may be fussy because of pain or fever. To reduce discomfort, you may want to give your child a medicine such as acetami n- ophen or ibuprofen. See the dose chart on page 2. Do not give aspirin. If your child is fussy for more than 24 hours, call your healthcare provider.
My child’s leg or arm is swollen, hot, and red. What should I do?
n Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the sore area for comfort.
n For pain, give a medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. See the dose chart on page 2. Do not give aspirin. n If the redness or tenderness increases after 24 hours, call your healthcare My child seems really sick. Should I call my healthcare provider?
If you are worried at all about how your child looks or feels, call your health-
care provider!
Please see page 2 for information on the healthcare provider: please fill in the information below.
proper amount of medicine to give your child to reduce pain or fever. If your child’s temperature is °F or °C or higher, or if you have questions, call your healthcare provider.
Technical content reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, October 2011.
Immunization Action Coalition 1573 Selby Avenue n St. Paul, Minnesota 55104 n www.vaccineinformation.org n www.immunize.org
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4015.pdf n Item #P4015 (10/11) after the shots: what to do if your child has discomfort – page 2
Medicines and Dosages to Reduce Pain and Fever
Choose the proper medicine, and measure the dose accurately.
1. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist which medicine is best for your child.
2. Give the dose based on your child’s weight. If you don’t know your child’s weight, give the dose based on your
child’s age. Do not give more medicine than is recommended.
3. If you have questions about dosage amounts or any other concerns, call your healthcare provider.
4. Always use a proper measuring device. For example:
■ When giving acetaminophen liquid (e.g., Tylenol), use the cup enclosed in the package. If you misplace the cup, consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist for advice. Kitchen spoons are not accurate measures.
■ When giving ibuprofen liquid (e.g., Advil, Motrin), use the device enclosed in the package. Never use Take these two steps to avoid causing a serious medication overdose in your child.
1. Don’t give your child a larger amount of acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin, Advil) than
is shown in the table below. Too much of any of these medicines can cause an overdose. 2. When you give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen, don’t also give them over-the-counter (OTC) cough
or cold medicines. This can also cause a medication overdose because cough and cold medicines often con-tain acetaminophen or ibuprofen. In fact, to be safe, don’t give OTC cough and cold medicines to your child unless you talk to your child’s healthcare provider first.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol or another brand): How much to give?
Give every 4 to 6 hours, as needed, no more than 5 times in 24 hours (unless directed to do otherwise by your healthcare provider).
OLD FORMULATION
infants’ new formulation
child’s weight
child’s
infants’ drops
or children’s liquid
children’s junior
chewables strength
Kitchen spoons are not accurate measures. DISCONTINUED
ACTURERS
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, or another brand): How much to give?
Give every 6 to 8 hours, as needed, no more than 4 times in 24 hours (unless directed to do otherwise by your healthcare provider).
OLD FORMULATION
children’s
child’s weight
child’s
infants’ drops
children’s liquid
children’s
chewables or
chewables
junior tablets
Kitchen spoons are not accurate measures. DISCONTINUED
ACTURERS
Immunization Action Coalition n www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4015.pdf
* healthcare provider: please fill in the advised dose.

Source: http://www.deltapediatrics.com/client_files/file/What-to-do-after-the-shots.pdf