Читать книгу Vaccines For Dummies - Sharon Perkins - Страница 16

Any substance you put inside the human body has the potential to cause side effects. In most cases, side effects don’t affect everyone, and most side effects aren’t serious or long lasting. But it’s always nice to be prepared for typical side effects, and it’s important to be aware of more serious side effects that necessitate a visit to your healthcare provider. We spell out side effects and what to watch for in Chapter 7.

Rarely, around one in a million or so cases, a vaccine can cause an anaphylactic reaction. This type of reaction can affect many body systems and be life-threatening. Anaphylactic reactions can occur if you have an allergy to one of the ingredients found in the vaccine. If you have known allergies to a vaccine or a possible vaccine component, always check the ingredients on a vaccine’s label before being vaccinated. Anaphylactic reactions can include difficulty breathing, facial swelling, a drop in blood pressure, or loss of consciousness. Most, but not all, anaphylactic reactions occur within a few minutes after receiving a vaccine.

Anaphylactic reactions are a medical emergency and require immediate medical attention. If you’ve had this type of reaction in the past, your healthcare provider may recommend carrying an epinephrine (epi) pen.