Influenza, or the flu, is a viral infection most commonly caused by influenza A or B viruses. Seasonal flu symptoms are uncomfortable and can include high fever, muscle aches and pain, sore throat, runny nose or cough. Each year, over 20,000 children under the age of 5 in the United States require hospitalization due to the flu, according to BabyCenter. Parents or caregivers can help protect their children against developing the flu by ensuring they receive a flu shot from the doctor. It is important that parents and caregivers are aware of flu shot complications in children before taking a child for this vaccination.
Skin Reaction at Injection Site
The most common complication of the flu shot in both children and adults is a skin reaction at the injection site. A child can develop redness or swelling within the upper arm near the site of flu vaccination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. The skin region can be tender to the touch and a child may complain that her arm hurts or feels heavy. Typically, injection site complications arise shortly after a child is immunized and can persist for approximately one to two days before subsiding. If a child experiences severe swelling, blistering or peeling of the skin at the injection site, she should be taken to a doctor immediately for further evaluation and care.
Fever or Headache
Children who receive the flu shot can develop a low-grade fever as a complication of vaccination. Fever symptoms in children can persist for approximately eight to 24 hours following receipt of the flu shot, according to Discovery Health. A child with a fever may complain of headache pain or may begin to sweat. A fever can also cause a child to appear flushed and her skin may be moist or warm to the touch. Unusually high or persistent fever symptoms in children can be a sign of a severe reaction to the flu shot and should be reported to a physician immediately.
Muscle Aches or Chills
Additional complications of the flu shot in children can include muscle aches or chills. These complications are rare and typically affect less than one percent of patients treated with the flu vaccine, BabyCenter explains. Children who develop muscle aches and chills generally experience relief from these symptoms within a day or two of flu shot treatment.
Allergic Reaction
Certain children, especially those who have an allergy to eggs, are at risk of experiencing an allergic reaction as a complication of the flu shot, Discovery Health warns. Allergic reaction symptoms can include heart rate irregularities, breathing problems, itchy skin and throat or facial swelling. Children who develop allergic reaction complications after receiving the flu shot should be taken to a doctor immediately to prevent additional problems.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Seasonal Influenza
- Discovery Health: Should I Get a Flu Shot? - What are the Possible Side Effects?
- KidsHealth: Is the Flu Vaccine a Good Idea for Your Family?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Inactivated Influenza Vaccine - What You Need to Know
- BabyCenter: The Flu Shot for Children
