Your little one's skin often looks red and swollen after immunization. Before you become overly suspicious and panic, first check whether the situation is normal or requires further examination.
Generally, immunization will not have harmful side effects for the recipient. The pain felt during the injection is also usually mild and will subside on its own.
Immunization Side Effects
In addition to pain when injected, there are also several other side effects that may be experienced by children, such as low-grade fever, headache, feeling tired, muscle and joint pain. Swelling and redness are also common side effects. This condition is known as post-immunization co-occurrence (AEFI).
Swollen skin after immunization is a sign that the body is starting to form immunity to the disease. This inflammation usually appears a few hours after immunization and subsides on its own within a week.
What you need to be aware of is the side effect of immunization in the form of an anaphylactic allergic reaction. This condition is very rare, but can be dangerous and life-threatening. Therefore, it is better for you to consult with your doctor first before immunizing your little one.
Swelling After Immunization Occurs in Giving Certain Vaccines
Swollen skin after immunization does not occur in all vaccine administration. The following are some types of vaccines that can cause skin swelling and redness:
1. BCG Vaccine
BCG or vaccine Bacillus Calmette-Guerin is a vaccine given to protect children from tuberculosis (tuberculosis). Generally, after giving the BCG vaccine, the skin at the injection site will swell slightly. This swelling usually does not last long, but will turn into small scars on the child's skin.
2. Hepatitis B vaccine
The hepatitis B vaccine is given to protect children from liver inflammation caused by the hepatitis B virus. This vaccine may cause pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site.
3. DPT Vaccine
DPT immunization is a vaccine given to prevent diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus in children. This vaccine may cause side effects in the form of an inflammatory reaction and swelling around the injection site, especially for the DTaP type of DPT immunization given at school age (5 years).
4. Chickenpox vaccine (varicella)
Chickenpox vaccine or varicella is a vaccine given to prevent chickenpox. Generally, reddish spots will appear between the 5th and 26th day after the chickenpox vaccination. In addition, lumps or sores may appear at the injection site.
5. Vaccines measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
This vaccine is a vaccine that is given to prevent disease measles (measles), mumps (mumps), and rubella. Generally, after the MMR vaccination, symptoms of fever may appear followed by a mild red rash around the injection point, along with a mild runny nose.
How to Relieve Swelling After Immunization
There are ways you can do if your child's skin area is swollen after immunization, including:
- Cold compress the swollen and red area for about 10–20 minutes. Wrap the cold compress in a towel or cloth so it doesn't touch the skin directly.
- Make sure your little one is not wearing a blanket or hot clothes and give him more water or breast milk if the swelling after immunization is accompanied by a fever.
- Give paracetamol as a pain reliever or consult a doctor for the right medication if the pain is very bothersome.
Immunizations will generally only cause mild side effects and those will subside within a few days. So, the side effect of swelling after immunization like this shouldn't be a reason for you not to complete your little one's immunizations, right?
Immunizations that are complete and on schedule are still very important for children and should not be missed. However, if the side effects seem very bothersome and don't go away, you can take your little one to the doctor for an examination.