(HealthDay News) -- When children have a severe reaction to an immunization -- with symptoms such as high fever, breathing problems, continuous crying for several hours, weakness, or red streaks near the injection site -- it requires immediate medical attention.
The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital offers these suggestions for much milder post-injection discomfort:
- For soreness at or near the injection site, apply a cool, damp cloth or an ice pack.
- Administer an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen. Do not give the child aspirin.
- For minor cases of hives, apply hydrocortisone cream.
- Any fever that develops should not last more than three days. Administer acetaminophen and lots of fluids. If the fever lasts more than three days, seek medical attention at once.
- Your child may be cranky or fussy after the immunization, and may sleep a lot. If these symptoms don't improve after three days, call your doctor.
