The Signs and Symptoms of an Adverse Reaction to the Flu Vaccine in Children

During or right before the flu season, you may want to have your child vaccinated against the virus. A flu shot exposes the recipient to the flu virus so that his immune system is prepared to fight it. Despite the limited risk, some people---children especially---may experience side effects indicative of a reaction to the injection. These adverse reactions are not typically serious, though, and are usually short-lived and treatable.

Injection Site Reactions

• After your child receives her flu shot, monitor the injection site for the rest of the day and the following morning. Some of the most common reactions among children aged six to 23 months include rash and other skin reactions around the site of the injection. This area may become swollen, tender and inflamed.

Fever

• Less common in adults than in children is the development of a post-vaccination fever. A minor fever may form within six to 12 hours of the injection, and may remain for one to two days. These generally occur in people without prior exposure to the vaccine---a child receiving his first vaccine, then, is more likely to develop this symptom. He may also develop minor aches and pains, chills or a headache.

Allergic Reactions

• Parents may wish to have their child tested for an egg allergy prior to receiving a flu shot. The vaccine is prepared using eggs, so people with an allergy may experience a reaction to the vaccine. The vaccine cannot be grown without the use of eggs, but the trace amount of egg may trigger reactions only in those with severe allergies.

Nasal Spray Reactions

• The flu vaccine is also available as a nasal spray, though instead of dead viruses, it contains weakened live ones. This being the case, exposure to the nasal spray vaccine may cause flu-like symptoms, such as vomiting and a runny nose. Despite this potential reaction, the nasal spray vaccine does not actually infect your child with the flu---she may simply experience a similar reaction.