Fever after vaccination
In the context of a vaccination, fever is described as a possible side effect of the vaccine. Vaccinations are carried out by a pediatrician or family doctor and belong to the precaution and prevention just like the U – examinations. Vaccinations provide children with appropriate protection against serious infections and prevent the outbreak and spread of dangerous, contagious diseases.
Approximately two to three days after a vaccination, an increase in body temperature may occur as a side effect. This occurs because the body’s own defence system recognizes the vaccine as foreign and acts against it by raising the temperature as a natural protective function. If the reactions are mildly feverish, they occur without any additional symptoms and must be timed to coincide with the previous administration of the vaccine dose.
If the temperature does not rise above 38° C and if it drops after a period of about 24 hours, you should not worry. However, if the fever does not go down, or if temperatures exceed 39° C, a doctor should be consulted as a precaution. In small children, vaccination with a subsequent fever can lead to febrile convulsions.
In addition to numerous bacterial and viral pathogens, the symptom of fever of unclear origin is a special form. Here, no pathogen and no cause can be identified. In 75% of the patients who receive cytostatic drugs (chemotherapy) and whose immune system has been down-regulated, receive a FUO.
In 50%, no pathogen is detectable that has led to this increase in temperature. Until proven otherwise, one must assume that an infection has occurred. In most cases, staphylococci, streptococci or Gram-negative bacteria are pathogens that cause infections.
Gram-negative pathogens include Pseudomonas aeroginosa, E. Coli, Klebsiellen, etc. In fevers of unclear origin, a distinction is made between courses with reduced neutrophilic granulocytes (neutropenia, e.g. in the above-mentioned immunocompromised patients) and courses in patients with an intact immune system. Patients without neutropenia, who develop an unclear fever, are usually suffering from an inflammation of the inner wall of the heart (endocarditis), tuberculosis or HIV infection.
One speaks of a nosocomial FUO when a fever is elevated during a hospital stay without the suspicion of an infection at the time of hospitalization. In this case, the cause could be a urinary tract infection or an infected venous catheter. In this case, appropriate measures should be taken (urine examination and removal of prolonged brown needles). In approx. 25% of fevers of unclear genesis, the pathogens are not found.
