Anaphylactic shock and important considerations when taking your baby for vaccinations.

Ms. Ngoc (Khuong Trung, Hanoi) has been extremely worried these past few days and has decided to postpone her daughter Bong's vaccinations, even though Bong is 4 months old and, according to the schedule, should receive the Hepatitis B and Meningitis vaccines. She confided: "I'm very worried and don't know what to do if my child also experiences shock after the vaccinations?"

Vaccinating everyone, especially young children, is extremely important. Vaccination is both inexpensive and helps maintain good health; it prevents disease and protects those who might get sick. Everyone knows that prevention is better than cure. However, the incident in Quang Tri where three children died after receiving vaccinations has caused widespread anxiety and concern among parents.

Although the exact cause remains unclear, many experts believe this is a sign of anaphylactic shock in children after vaccination.

So what is anaphylactic shock?

Anaphylaxis is a particularly severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening to children. It occurs when a child's immune system becomes overly sensitive to an allergen they are exposed to or injected with.

When this happens, the baby's entire body is affected, usually lasting for a few minutes. When the baby's immune system comes into contact with allergens, the body stimulates the production of a substance called histamine and other chemicals in large quantities. This causes the baby's body to go into shock, a phenomenon with many symptoms and sometimes life-threatening.

The most common causes of anaphylactic shock in infants and children are through food, such as peanuts, other nuts, milk, fish, shellfish, or eggs; and through medications such as antibiotics, wasp stings, rubber, etc. A small number of anaphylactic shocks occur after vaccinations, and the cases of the three children in Quang Tri fall into this minority.

Symptom

Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.

Fast circuit.

Sweating

Dizziness, fainting, or loss of consciousness on the spot.

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and severe diarrhea.

Skin discoloration, bluish, pale

Medical experts say that while the risk of death from anaphylactic shock is not high, parents should be especially vigilant because severe anaphylactic shock in children can be very dangerous.

What to do if your child experiences anaphylactic shock?

If your child experiences anaphylactic shock, the faster you act, the faster they will recover and the less impact their health will have. Without prompt treatment, in some unfortunate cases, the child's life may be in danger.

Take your child to the hospital immediately if they have difficulty breathing, become irritable, or are in a deep coma. Try to keep them calm by talking to them continuously. If anaphylactic shock is treated promptly, most children recover completely and have no long-term complications.

The baby needs to be placed on its left side, and medical professionals will administer oxygen, intravenous medication, and perform some basic procedures to help the baby return to a normal state. The baby will need to stay at the medical facility for at least 24 hours for careful monitoring and examination by doctors. At the hospital, the baby will undergo tests to determine the exact cause of the allergy and anaphylactic shock.

Additional things to keep in mind when taking your child for vaccinations.

When taking your child to a medical facility for vaccination, parents should dress their child simply, avoiding cumbersome clothing or multiple layers of warm clothing to help the professionals work quickly and accurately. Before vaccination, do not feed your child too much food or milk, but also do not let them get too hungry, as this can lead to exhaustion and low blood pressure after the injection.

After a child receives a vaccine, parents need to monitor them to ensure they are healthy and not experiencing any problems. Typically, they should observe their child for about 30 minutes because if a child experiences shock or an adverse reaction, they will usually show unusual symptoms within 7-10 minutes of the injection.

Patients with allergies or a history of anaphylaxis should be counseled and instructed to recognize the early signs of anaphylaxis and take timely intervention measures.

For children who experienced mild anaphylactic shock after their first vaccination, parents should inform healthcare professionals about this for subsequent vaccinations so that a suitable, effective, and safe vaccination schedule can be developed for the child.

Parents should take their children to a large hospital for vaccination, where, under the careful supervision of doctors, the child will be able to receive prompt treatment if this condition recurs.

Absolutely do not take a sick child with a fever or a child who has just recovered from an illness to get vaccinated. Parents should postpone vaccination to allow the child to recover. Only when the child is completely healthy should parents take them for vaccination.

At home, parents should continue to monitor their child, apply a cool compress to the injection site, give the child plenty of water to drink, and encourage more breastfeeding.

Go to the hospital or health department immediately if your child shows any unusual signs.

According to Young Intellectuals - PC