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Small Red Rashes Appeared On Body After Chicken Pox Vaccine. Is This Common?
Question: My son age 10, got chicken pox vaccine in school today afternoon. Now he is displaying symtoms of small red eruptions on his body. Is this common after vaccination?
Dear XXXXXXX
Chicken pox vaccine, being a live-virus vaccine, can give rise to some side-effects like fever, pain at the site of the vaccination, a slight redness at the site of the injection, and so on. Sometimes, a vaccinated child may exhibit a chicken-pox like rash that occurs after 5-8 days after the administration of the vaccine.
A red eruption occurring on the day of vaccination is unlikely to be due to the vaccine, although, in rare cases, anything can happen in a given child. I would suggest that you use calamine lotion (available in pharmacies without a prescription) over the rash areas at bed-time, esp if the rash is itchy. Also, if the rash hasn't disappeared within 24-36 hours, you should go to his doctor and seek professional advice.
However, my first doubt was: why did you, in fact, agree to vaccination at school? The reason I am asking is that most children in India would have already suffered from chicken pox in the early years of life, and a vaccine would NOT be needed! Secondly, I am assuming that you agreed to the vaccination because it was being given to all the children of his class. This is surely not the right way to vaccinate your child. I urge you NOT to succumb to pressure from the school and vaccinate the child without the advice of his usual doctor/pediatrician.
In the end, I would simply tell you not to worry unless the rash lasts longer than a day or at most two, or if there are other symptoms like high fever, fluid-filled bubbles on the skin, excessive redness or itching, or anything else that you can't possibly explain as being due to chance.
Thank you for choosing me to address your query. I sincerely wish that your son gets all right soon. Be alert for the problems I indicated above. And, please do remember not to vaccinate your loved ones at school or/and without the proper guidance of your son's usual doctor/pediatrician.
With best wishes for the festive season,
Dr. Taher
Chicken pox vaccine, being a live-virus vaccine, can give rise to some side-effects like fever, pain at the site of the vaccination, a slight redness at the site of the injection, and so on. Sometimes, a vaccinated child may exhibit a chicken-pox like rash that occurs after 5-8 days after the administration of the vaccine.
A red eruption occurring on the day of vaccination is unlikely to be due to the vaccine, although, in rare cases, anything can happen in a given child. I would suggest that you use calamine lotion (available in pharmacies without a prescription) over the rash areas at bed-time, esp if the rash is itchy. Also, if the rash hasn't disappeared within 24-36 hours, you should go to his doctor and seek professional advice.
However, my first doubt was: why did you, in fact, agree to vaccination at school? The reason I am asking is that most children in India would have already suffered from chicken pox in the early years of life, and a vaccine would NOT be needed! Secondly, I am assuming that you agreed to the vaccination because it was being given to all the children of his class. This is surely not the right way to vaccinate your child. I urge you NOT to succumb to pressure from the school and vaccinate the child without the advice of his usual doctor/pediatrician.
In the end, I would simply tell you not to worry unless the rash lasts longer than a day or at most two, or if there are other symptoms like high fever, fluid-filled bubbles on the skin, excessive redness or itching, or anything else that you can't possibly explain as being due to chance.
Thank you for choosing me to address your query. I sincerely wish that your son gets all right soon. Be alert for the problems I indicated above. And, please do remember not to vaccinate your loved ones at school or/and without the proper guidance of your son's usual doctor/pediatrician.
With best wishes for the festive season,
Dr. Taher
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks a lot Doctor.
I took him to our doctor and he dignosis the same as "Chicken Pox". Also the vaccine was for " Khasra". He has precribed some medicines for 5 days.
Regds, XXXXXXX
I took him to our doctor and he dignosis the same as "Chicken Pox". Also the vaccine was for " Khasra". He has precribed some medicines for 5 days.
Regds, XXXXXXX
Dear XXXXXXX,
You are welcome.
Dr. Taher
You are welcome.
Dr. Taher
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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