Flu vaccine for a child: why does a cough appear after the injection?

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• Prevention of ARVI and influenza in children

In winter, it is difficult to find a more pressing topic than the prevention of influenza and ARVI in children under 1 year of age and older. There are at least two hundred viruses that provoke the development of respiratory diseases, and the immune system of children, especially younger ones, is just learning to recognize them and fight pathology. The task of each parent is to minimize the likelihood of infection by any available methods.

In a multidisciplinary clinic, you can consult with an experienced specialist on the treatment and prevention of respiratory diseases during periods of epidemics.

General recommendations

There is a list of recommendations that includes publicly available measures to prevent ARVI and influenza in children, the effectiveness of which has been confirmed by the experience of ordinary people and doctors, including the authoritative specialist E.O. Komarovsky.

• Well-established life
  It is difficult to fight germs and bacteria when living conditions contribute to their proliferation. To clean your home as much as possible from harmful microorganisms, you need to adhere to the following rules:

  - do not allow the temperature in the room to exceed 22ºС, in the bedroom - above 19ºС; - do wet cleaning daily; - treat door handles and switches with an antibacterial agent; — maintain air humidity in the range of 50-70%; - reduce the number of things that retain dust (stuffed toys, carpets, souvenirs, etc.) - regularly ventilate the rooms.

  In addition, if one of the family members is sick, it is necessary to reduce the number of direct contacts with him.

  Read also:  Inactivated polyvalent equine influenza vaccine, 10 doses
• Nutrition
  Physical condition directly depends on diet. This is especially important for a growing organism, so when organizing nutrition you need to:

  - adhere to a certain eating regimen; -create a balanced and varied menu; -eat small portions, 4-5 times a day; -limit the consumption of sweets, as well as foods high in unnatural additives.

  It is important to remember that simple meals made from basic foods and seasonal vegetables and fruits are the healthiest. It is also worth maintaining water balance in the child’s body. The child needs to consume enough fluids daily (children over 2 years old - about 1 liter of water). At the initial stage, when the first symptoms appear, drinking plenty of fluids helps to quickly cleanse the body of pathogenic microorganisms.

• Hygiene
  In addition to the basic rules of personal hygiene, you need to add special procedures that reduce the risk of colds:

  - wash your hands more often (mandatory if you cover your mouth with your palm when coughing or sneezing); - rinse the nasal passages and throat with special solutions; - do not touch your face with your hands and do not rub your eyes with them (use napkins); — during epidemics, use a disposable mask in places where people are present; - use your own personal items (toothbrush, comb, your own dishes and cutlery, etc.).

  These are generally accepted rules that should not be neglected, allowing the proliferation of bacteria and viruses. If it is not possible to wash your hands, you can use antiseptics that are convenient to take with you.

• Daily regime
  It is equally important to adhere to the routine:

  - night sleep should last at least 8 hours; — it is advisable to maintain a “quiet hour” during the day, especially for preschoolers; - Ensure adequate physical activity during the day.

  Adequate rest is necessary to activate protective functions, regardless of age.

• Walking outside
  To maximize your health in the fresh air, you must:

  - walk 3-4 hours daily (depending on weather conditions, you can adjust the time spent outside); - avoid hypothermia, especially long-term; - dress according to the weather, taking into account such factors as the presence of precipitation and ambient temperature, as well as the degree of activity of the baby; - if the child gets wet, return to the room as soon as possible, change into dry clothes and give him a warm drink.

For walks, it is better to choose parks and squares, pedestrian zones and areas located away from congestion of cars. In winter, it is advisable to avoid crowded places and give preference to a walk in the forest instead of visiting an entertainment center or cinema.

Cough elimination

The appearance of a severe cough from vaccination requires urgent medical attention for the patient.

First of all, the following must be observed:

• It is recommended to rest and spend more time lying in bed;
• It is important to drink plenty of warm drinks (up to 2 liters per day), compotes from fresh berries and dried fruits, still mineral water, milk and fermented milk products are preferred;
• you need a nutritious diet with enough meat, vegetables and fruits;
• The room should be cleaned with ventilation every 1.5–2 hours and air humidification;
• it is necessary to get rid of harmful habits during the period of illness - smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages;
• exclude hypothermia and stressful situations.

Etiological, pathogenetic and symptomatic drug therapy for cough is prescribed:

• With the development of influenza infection, the prescription of antiviral drugs is indicated - Grippferon, Kipferon, Kagocel, Tsitovir, Remantadine, Tamiflu.
• When a cough is provoked by a bacterial infection, the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs is indicated: cephalosporins (Cefazolin, Cefuroxime), macrolides (Clarithromycin, Roxithromycin), fluoroquinolones (Ofloxacin, Levofloxacin), aminoglycosides (Amikacin).
• For viscous sputum, expectorant medications are used - Mucaltin, Ambroxol, Fluditek, Lazolvan. It is preferable for children to use herbal products (syrups Gedelix, Stoptussin, Gerbion, Bronchicum).
• Antipyretic medications for fever - Paracetamol, Upsarin Upsa, Ibuprofen, Nurofen. Children are prescribed Panadol, Efferalgan, Cefekon in rectal suppositories.

Non-drug methods

They can also be used in the treatment of cough after vaccination. The easiest way is to breathe over steam from a pan of boiled water with the addition of chamomile, coltsfoot, sage or linden. Use a nebulizer effectively.

Physiotherapeutic techniques used for cough:

• thermal treatments with paraffin, mud therapy and clay;
• inductothermy in the interscapular zone;
• UHF and UV chest methods;
• magnetic therapy;
• medicinal electrophoresis.

The patient’s condition will be improved by performing breathing exercises, which prevent the development of congestion in the lungs and promote the rapid evacuation of sputum. To do this, inhale, hold your breath for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly. It is recommended to repeat the exercise 4-5 times a day for 5-6 minutes.

Putting a person in a drainage position when coughing will help clear the airways of mucus. To do this, the head end of the body must be positioned below the foot end.

Massage therapy will also complement traditional cough therapy after a flu shot.

Prevention of ARVI and influenza in infants

Basic virus precautions for newborns are no different from general recommendations. But there are additional ways to protect the little ones:

• invite guests to your home less often to reduce the number of contacts;
• wash your hands thoroughly before interacting with your baby;
• provide the baby with his own hygiene supplies and separate dishes;
• refrain from introducing new products into complementary foods during epidemics;
• exclude unacceptable methods of “disinfection” (lick a fallen pacifier or spoon, etc.);
• Do not touch the child’s face with your hands on the street;
• bathe the baby daily in warm water (about 36ºС);
• Continue breastfeeding for at least 12 months.

Prevention of ARVI in children in kindergarten

In preschool institutions, sanitary and hygienic standards are constantly observed, and measures are taken to prevent the development of viral diseases, for example:

• air baths and hardening procedures (usually include gymnastic exercises, walking barefoot on a special surface);
• quartzing of premises.

It is equally important for parents to take precautions: if the baby shows the first signs of illness (stuffy or runny nose, coughing, etc.), you need to cancel your visit to the facility.

Prevention of influenza and ARVI in schools

To reduce the likelihood of the spread of viruses among schoolchildren, you need to:

• ventilate classrooms at least 5 times a day;
• at the end of the educational process, do wet cleaning of the room;
• Students must wash their hands, observing the rules of personal hygiene;
• children with cold symptoms should wear disposable respiratory masks;
• Use saline solution to rinse your nose and gargle.

If the educational institution is not located near your home, but within walking distance, it is better to walk and not use public transport. This way you can avoid unnecessary contact with potential carriers of the virus.

Drug protection

The list of drugs for the prevention of influenza and ARVI is constantly updated with new items. Despite the wide range, there are a number of medications that have proven themselves to be good protection against colds.

• Antiviral tablets
  To prevent the development of pathological processes, immunomodulators and interferon-based drugs are used. They are able to activate the immune system and compensate for the lack of their own interferons, which significantly increases resistance to viruses of various etiologies. Such drugs include Gripferon, Cycloferon, Kipferon and other medications.
• Drops for children for the prevention of ARVI
  Rinsing the nasal passages with saline or saline solution ensures the removal of pathological microorganisms, and as a result, protects against the penetration of viruses and bacteria. For the procedures, use pharmaceutical preparations: Aqualor, Aquamaris and others, or prepare a saline solution yourself, for which dissolve table salt in boiled water at the rate of ½ teaspoon of salt per glass of water.
• Sprays in the throat for the prevention of ARVI
  Antiseptic drugs in the form of sprays (Miramistin, Hexoral and others) should be used only as prescribed by a doctor. Self-administration of such medications, instead of benefit, can harm your health.
• Ointments and gels for protection against colds
  Ointments and gels are usually used for the nose, since the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms occurs mainly through the respiratory tract.

  They recommend Fleming's ointment, Oxolinic and Tetracycline ointments, Golden Star balm, Otofag gel and other products. Before use, you need to familiarize yourself with the age restrictions. Viferon ointment is also popular and effective for the prevention of ARVI in children and adults, including during pregnancy.

• Inhalations with saline solution for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections in children
  The purpose of such inhalation is to moisturize the mucous membranes and clear the respiratory tract of viruses and bacteria. At the first signs of a cold, this measure will shorten the treatment period or completely get rid of clinical manifestations in the early stages. But for no apparent reason, simply rinsing the nose is enough.
• Vitamins
  Multivitamins and vitamin complexes are dietary supplements and can be used according to the instructions (Vitrum, Alphabet, Multitabs and others). In this case, it is necessary to take into account the age and weight of the child, since excessive use of such additives will not be beneficial. In addition, a balanced diet, consumption of seasonal vegetables and fruits will provide the body with useful substances without special means. Before you start taking vitamins, you should visit a specialist.
• Prevention of influenza and ARVI with folk remedies
  Folk remedies do not have scientific confirmation, so their effectiveness can only be proven by one’s own experience. These include placing peeled garlic cloves indoors, “inhalation” over a pan of freshly boiled potatoes, hot drinks in the form of milk with butter, tea with honey or raspberry jam, and many other methods.

Due to the safety of most procedures, the prevention of ARVI and influenza using traditional methods is popular among pregnant women and is used for children over 3 years of age. Such methods are allowed, but do not replace the need to receive qualified medical assistance and take medications.

Why can children get sick immediately after vaccination?

Even though the flu vaccination curbs the attack of the virus, it does not guarantee 100% protection against the disease. If infection does occur, vaccinated children tolerate the disease much easier, without dangerous complications. The instructions for influenza vaccine medications warn of the possible appearance of mild symptoms of intoxication after vaccination, including fever and cough.

• Temperature. As a sign of a common cold, it does not rise to high levels at lightning speed. A thermometer reading of 37.5°C may well be accompanied by a slight ache in the joints.
• Cough. The appearance of catarrhal phenomena is considered a normal reaction of the child’s immune system to foreign antigens. Symptoms of sore throat and nasal congestion disappear two days after vaccination.

Coughs and other colds do not require any active treatment with drugs, including antivirals. If your baby gets sick the day after vaccination, this may not be a post-vaccination reaction at all. It is possible that before vaccination, the child had contact with sick people, because the vaccine protects against infection with the flu, and not with other viruses.

If your child develops a cough and symptoms of nasal congestion after getting a flu shot, these are signs of more than just the flu. During a flu-like state, there is usually no sneezing syndrome. If the symptoms of the disease have not gone away after two days, you should immediately call your pediatrician. Only a qualified specialist can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate therapy.

Contraindications

There are contraindications for the flu shot:

• age up to six months;
• presence of allergies to the components of the drug;
• severe reaction to a previous vaccination.

Children who have:

• egg allergy;
• dysfunction of the immune system.

In any case, before vaccination, you must be examined by a doctor and undergo tests. Two weeks before the vaccination date, it is advisable to avoid traveling. If you are prone to allergies, you should start giving antihistamines three days before the procedure. If a child falls ill within three weeks before vaccination, it is recommended to postpone the vaccination date to a later date.

Why is vaccination necessary?

It is not yet possible to avoid the development of annual epidemics due to the rapid mutation of the virus. This is still an insurmountable obstacle to creating a vaccine with a long-term protective effect. Therefore, every year before the outbreak of an epidemic, all people are advised to get a flu shot targeted at the expected strain.

The influenza virus is considered the most widespread and insidious, and the emergence of resistant forms adds new, difficult to diagnose symptoms to the already known symptoms of the disease. Among the main symptoms characteristic of influenza are the following signs in a child:

• very high fever, aching joints and muscles;
• lethargy and loss of appetite due to severe headaches;
• redness of the mucous membranes, accompanied by cough and runny nose.

In addition to the fact that children have a hard time with the symptoms of the flu, the viral disease is dangerous due to complications, including pneumonia and otitis media. There are only three main types of influenza virus - A, B and C. By mixing with each other and mutating, the virus forms new strains, against which a new vaccine has to be created every year.

The most dangerous influenza is caused by virus A; its spread creates the threat of widespread epidemics. Influenza caused by virus C is considered the safest and most easily tolerated; it has never been the culprit of an epidemiological situation.