Vaccination has become part of mandatory medical procedures. This won't surprise you anymore. But it happens that the child gets sick after Mantoux. Parents in such a situation begin to panic. The main thing is to calm down and consult a doctor, he will explain everything and determine whether it is a disease or just the body’s reaction to the vaccine.
There is a danger of contracting tuberculosis from the Mantoux test test. And this is already a very serious problem for parents! Complications after vaccination are possible. The mechanism of its action is precisely based on causing a response from the body. This entails an increase in temperature and fever, which is perceived as the first symptoms of infection.
Illness or reaction to the test
In order to strengthen the stability of the immune system, a person is given an injection.
Cells become acquainted with a new antigen, a substance that under normal conditions is perceived as foreign to the body and is not found in its internal environment under normal conditions. When an antigen enters the human body, antibodies begin to be produced by body cells that are released when the antigen appears.
Then an interesting complex AGATE (ANTIGEN + ANTIBODY) is formed and eliminated, that is, released into the environment. Thus, the process of differentiation of cells into friendly and foreign occurs and protection from a hostile environment is provided.
After becoming familiar with the antigen, memory cells form stable immunity. And these days the Mantoux reaction occurs, symptoms similar to those of the disease appear. But don't panic. This is a normal defense mechanism that worked in time. Everything will be fine with the child, his body functions normally and takes care of him.
Reasons for feeling unwell after Mantoux
Recently Mantoux was placed and the child fell ill due to the administration of tuberculin. All symptoms point to this.
The reasons may be of different nature, however, everything is normal if the following conditions are met:
- Fever occurs only 2-3 days later, and not immediately after vaccination.
- Itching and redness appear after the injection.
- The size of the halo around the injection site reaches 1.5 centimeters.
If the injection is done incorrectly, contamination and infection can occur. There is no guarantee that a child will not get tuberculosis from Mantoux.
Usually this is very similar to acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections, which is a cause for concern:
- Unbearable headaches.
- Unreasonable nausea and vomiting.
- Various types of skin rashes.
- Significant decrease in blood pressure.
- Hyperthermia (increased body temperature).
- Lethargy and fatigue even with minor exertion.
- Runny nose, nasal congestion.
Among the reasons for poor health, there are a number of factors that provoked a deterioration in the condition. These include periods of exacerbation of diseases.
Temperature after Mantoux
In some cases, it can be quite easy to determine whether the cause of an unnaturally high temperature is due to tuberculosis or something else.
A temperature exceeding 37.5 is not associated with tuberculosis. It indicates that the cause is another infection. Another argument in favor of this diagnosis will be a cough, runny nose and other symptoms.
However, if the cause is still tuberculosis, you need to learn the following:
- Giving your baby an antipyretic is a bad idea.
- You don't have to take proactive steps unless necessary.
There is no need to bring down the temperature, because it subsides quite quickly - you don’t even need the help of a doctor.
Complications after BCG vaccination
BCG is a vaccine with anti-tuberculosis effect, the only preventive measure currently available.
The vaccine is not 100% effective and can provide protection only against the most severe form of tuberculosis, while against the most common form of the disease, on the contrary, it turns out to be practically useless. However, there is simply no other vaccine.
After vaccination, some complications are possible, as evidenced by the following signs:
- Formation of small ulcers.
- Formation of ulcers under the skin and inside the muscles.
- BCG infection.
- BCG infection in the musculoskeletal system.
- Anaphylactic shock.
- The appearance of a keloid scar.
The formation of ulcers primarily indicates the child’s hypersensitivity to tuberculin. There is no need for medical intervention; the ulcers heal within a few days.
The formation of abscesses indicates that the injection was carried out incorrectly, but they form only a month after it was carried out.
One of the most severe complications is BCG infection. The likelihood of its occurrence is very low. If we talk about those cases when it appears, it most often occurs in premature babies with weakened immune systems. BCG infection is accompanied by the following symptoms: increased body temperature, fatigue, decreased appetite. If you have any suspicions, you should immediately consult a doctor to get a chance to cure your baby.
BCG infection in the musculoskeletal system also occurs quite rarely. Its appearance is possible only in the presence of serious problems with the immune system.
What to do when a child gets sick after a Mantoux test
To avoid getting sick, prevention is necessary. Yes, it is much easier to prevent an infection than to cure it.
Precautionary measures are very simple and consist of preventing the risk of infection. It consists of two factors: the environment and pathogenic microorganisms in it. If nothing can be done from the second point naturally (in such cases only artificial vaccinations help: for example, Mantoux against tuberculosis), then we can still fight the first.
Precautionary measures:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Sunbathing, contrast showers, sports: all this will only be beneficial.
- Do not walk in crowded places (the likelihood of infection is much higher).
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Boost your immunity with fruits.
If your child is sick, look at the temperature! Low-grade fever means that everything will go away on its own after a few days. Above 37.5°C makes one think about a serious illness due to an additional infection (the cause is not tuberculosis).
In this case, consult a doctor to avoid consequences!
Actions that are unacceptable:
- Do not give your baby antipyretics after vaccination.
- Treating it with other drugs is a bad idea.
- Do not give Cytovir, which would do a great job against flu and colds. Everything will happen without your intervention.
Mantoux after illness
Is it possible to get vaccinated after the baby has had, for example, a sore throat or bronchitis? Many parents know that performing the Mantoux test immediately after an illness is not recommended. Being sick before vaccination means postponing it for several weeks. This rule is due to the fact that the body is weakened, and the introduction of a sample can have a negative effect. The body has not yet fully restored its reserve of strength, and it will not be difficult for an infection to penetrate it and gain a foothold.
Another reason is that a recent infection may affect the test results, making them incorrect or inaccurate. And in this case, the very meaning of the event disappears.
Any decision related to the child’s health primarily depends on the parent. A parent may find it necessary to carry out a reaction immediately after an illness, without fully understanding the situation, and then the baby’s health may be in danger. Here, as in many other cases, a preliminary consultation with a doctor will not hurt.
Doctors recommend carrying out the reaction only a month after the child’s recovery, so that his immunity has time to fully recover.
In addition to a recent illness, the results can also be affected by:
- allergy;
- menstruation;
- quarantine period.
When carrying out a reaction, it is better to take into account all possible factors that could distort the result and try to get rid of them.
Antihistamines after Mantoux
Antihistamines are substances that suppress the action of histamine. There has been debate for quite some time about whether it is necessary to take them before and after the Mantoux vaccination or, on the contrary, this should not be done under any circumstances.
Most are inclined to believe that it is necessary to take antihistamines. Their action is aimed at suppressing a possible allergic reaction, which, in turn, helps to obtain the most accurate Mantoux results. It is important to always read reviews about the medicine.
Contraindications for Mantoux
To ensure that the manipulation is beneficial and, most importantly, does not harm the baby, follow the rules and precautions.
There have been cases when Mantoux was administered and the child became suddenly ill due to associated complications. As it turned out, there are contraindications to the test, under which it should be abandoned:
- Skin diseases of any nature (in this case, a hyperergic reaction, that is, AGAT, which was discussed above, will deviate from the normal course and lead to undesirable effects).
- Infectious diseases, both acute and chronic: sore throat, acute respiratory infections, influenza.
- Quarantine among children: a common consequence of a chickenpox outbreak.
In the above cases, the test is either canceled or carried out after a certain period, when there are no reasons for refusal.
Why do children get sick after Mantoux?
The Mantoux test is not a vaccination containing live bacteria. Therefore, the risk of getting tuberculosis after injection is minimal. But sometimes there is a sharp increase in temperature and other symptoms characteristic of inflammation or ARVI. In most cases, the reason lies in improper preparation. Ideally, each baby should be carefully examined by a pediatrician, given a referral for general tests, and made sure there are no signs of influenza or other infectious diseases. Only after this is permission given to carry out the reaction.
In fact, due to lack of time, doctors miss important symptoms, which is fraught with complications. Among the possible reasons why the child fell ill after Mantoux are the following:
- The baby’s immunity is weakened by a recent acute respiratory infection, influenza or more serious inflammation occurred in a latent form.
- The baby has autoimmune diseases that were not previously diagnosed. Some children naturally have a lower level of lymphocytes, which are responsible for the formation of natural defenses, and there is a pathology of the thymus gland.
- Nutrition does not correspond to age in terms of the amount of vitamins and microelements; there is a lack of body weight, vitamin deficiency, and anemia.
- A few days before visiting the vaccination office, teeth began to emerge, and there were wounds or open erosions on the gums.
Can a child get sick after receiving a Mantoux vaccination? One of the reasons that doctors do not talk about is violation of the rules for storing and transporting the vaccine. Normally, it should constantly be at a certain temperature. Otherwise, a chemical reaction begins and the drug deteriorates. As a result, allergies and complications develop in the child’s body.
Can a child get sick after receiving a Mantoux vaccination? One of the reasons that doctors do not talk about is violation of the rules for storing and transporting the vaccine.
Doctor Komarovsky's opinion
An ardent supporter of flu vaccination and Mantoux tests is Dr. Evgeniy Komarovsky. And there is logic in his zeal, because thanks to vaccination and inoculation, the increase in morbidity and mortality has decreased by 80%, and life expectancy has increased.
Komarovsky clearly believes that the Mantoux reaction is worth doing. According to him, this makes it possible to diagnose whether a child has tuberculosis or not. In case of a positive response to the administration of tuberculin, hyperemia will occur against the background of allergies and an increase in temperature. The body will show a defensive response. And, conversely, in the absence of contact with viruses, it will “keep silent”, and the effect of the vaccination will not appear outwardly.
How to prevent complications?
The Mantoux test is well accepted by the body and rarely produces side effects or complications. But what should parents do to prevent such health problems after vaccination?
- Be sure to do basic blood and urine tests and determine your hemoglobin level.
- Show the child to the pediatrician, monitor the examination and enter data into the card.
- For 4–5 days before the injection, avoid visiting crowds of people and shops. If possible, do not take your child to playgrounds.
- After consulting with your doctor, you can give an antihistamine.
A little prevention will several times reduce the risk of your baby becoming infected with ARVI or influenza and will help you recover faster after the test.
So, we figured out what to do if a child gets sick after Mantoux. Adults should carefully monitor the body's reaction, support the body with vitamins and proper nutrition. What symptoms or complications did your baby experience after tuberculin administration? Subscribe to our blog and share your own experiences with readers in the comments below.
And be healthy!
