Associated symptoms

Often a harmless rash after vaccination is accompanied by general symptoms such as fatigue, slightly elevated body temperature and headache or aching limbs. Gastrointestinal problems may also occur. In addition, there is often a slight swelling at the injection site and pain, which may be reminiscent of sore muscles.

Depending on the vaccine, these symptoms may occur frequently or very frequently and are harmless. It is sufficient to take it easy for a few days and give the body time to defend itself against the vaccine with its own defence cells. The so-called “vaccine measles” not only cause the typical skin rash, but also an increased temperature and sometimes swelling of the lymph nodes.

It is extremely rare for mumps or measles to break out in their full clinical picture as a result of the vaccination. Likewise, the dreaded complications such as febrile convulsions or meningitis, which opponents of the vaccination constantly warn against, are extremely rare. Moreover, there is no conclusive evidence as to how many of the dramatic cases are actually due to the vaccination and in which cases the vaccination was only given in connection with the occurrence of febrile convulsions or meningitis.

In addition, in the case of an allergic reaction to the vaccine with a rash, itching often occurs. More rarely, asthma-like symptoms and shortness of breath may occur. Allergic shock is extremely rare.

Diagnosis

The temporal connection with a previous vaccination is a key factor in diagnosis.If the redness occurs locally around the injection site and is accompanied by symptoms such as local swelling and mild pain, the doctor can immediately say that it is a harmless vaccination reaction. Frequently, general symptoms such as malaise, aching limbs or headaches occur simultaneously. A diagnosis, which the doctor can also make as a gaze diagnosis, is the so-called “vaccination measles“.

Approximately one to two weeks after vaccination, the children develop a slight fever and a rash typical of measles. The children are usually not contagious and the symptoms subside after a few days without complications. An allergic reaction to a vaccine can occur immediately or only after days. In this case, the doctor is often helped by information whether the patient suffers from other allergies or whether similar symptoms have already occurred with previous vaccinations.