Why do I have a lump on my arm after getting a vaccination?

Vaccinating your baby on time and according to regulations can achieve the effect of disease prevention. It is not only the responsibility of the whole society, but also the responsibility of the baby's parents. Of course, parents must find out when to take their babies for what kind of vaccinations to be prepared. So, what should parents do if there is a lump on the arm after vaccination? Is this normal?

It is normal for children to have lumps on their arms after vaccinations

Many children can feel a lump at the injection site after receiving a vaccination, which sometimes lasts for several months. This is a small calcified bruise in the muscle and is not a serious problem. It is a normal phenomenon. If it is local redness and swelling, it is recommended to apply fresh raw potato slices to the child.

Don’t apply the mask for too long. Some parents keep applying the mask to their children, and they would like to tie a piece of cloth on it to prevent it from falling off. There will be moisture on the surface of freshly cut potato slices, which will not fall off. If it falls off, it means the moisture has dried up and there is no need to apply it again. Usually, apply it 3-4 times a day, each time for more than 10 minutes.

What to do if your child has a fever after vaccination

In addition, it is common for children to develop a fever after receiving vaccinations. If fever occurs, take appropriate treatment according to different body temperature conditions. The normal temperature of a child is around 37.2℃. If it hovers between 37.9℃-38.5℃ after the injection, drink more water and rest more, use physical cooling, and wipe with a warm towel. It is not recommended to wipe with alcohol, as parents generally do not have a good grasp of the degree of dilution.

If the body temperature exceeds 38.5℃, give the child ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Children under 16 years old should not use aspirin as it is prone to Reye's syndrome. If the high fever persists, it is recommended to take the child to the hospital.

How your child reacts to certain vaccines

BCG

Used to prevent tuberculosis in children, especially those serious types of tuberculosis such as tuberculous meningitis. The following reactions may occur 2-4 months after vaccination: red spots, swelling, suppuration, ulceration, scabs, and finally small scars. This is usually seen as a sign of successful vaccination, so parents don't need to worry too much.

MMR live attenuated triple vaccine

About 5% of infants develop rash, high fever, mumps, or swollen lymph nodes in the face or neck 1 to 2 weeks after the injection, which usually lasts for a few days. Occasionally, joint pain and stiffness may occur within a few days. These symptoms are not contagious and will go away on their own after a few days.

Varicella live attenuated vaccine

Some children have flu-like symptoms that last for a few days after getting the chickenpox vaccine. It may occur immediately after vaccination or several weeks later. Only in extremely rare cases can a child get a mild form of chickenpox after being vaccinated.

If your baby has the following vaccination reactions, you need to take your baby to the hospital immediately:

If the child shows some serious reaction symptoms, such as high fever over 40℃, rash all over the body, listlessness, convulsions, local infection, sterile abscess, angioedema, anaphylactic shock, or shrill crying that cannot be soothed for two or three hours, the child should be taken to the hospital for treatment in time, and the reaction should be reported to the vaccination unit.