Risks and Problems Associated With DTaP
Getting diphtheria, tetanus or pertussis disease is much riskier than getting DTaP vaccine. However, just like with any medicine, there are possible risks with the DTaP vaccine. Most of the possible problems that can occur are minor, meaning that they go away without treatment or are very easily treated by a healthcare provider. The risk of DTaP vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Mild Problems
Mild problems that can occur with DTaP vaccine include:
- Pain (about 7 in 10 cases)
- Redness or swelling (about 1 in 5 cases)
- Mild fever (at least 99.5°F, affecting up to about 1 in 10 cases)
- Headache (about 4 in 10 cases)
- Tiredness (less than 1 in 3 cases)
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (about 1 in 5 cases).
Other mild problems reported include chills, body aches, sore joints, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
These problems occur more often after the fourth and fifth doses of the DTaP series rather than after earlier doses.
Sometimes the fourth or fifth dose of DTaP vaccine is followed by swelling of the entire arm or leg in which the shot was given, for one to seven days (up to about 1 child in 30).
More Serious Problems
More serious problems can occur with DTaP vaccine. These problems, however, occur rarely. Some more serious problems that can occur with DTaP vaccine include:
- Seizure (jerking or staring, affecting about 1 child out of 14,000)
- Nonstop crying, for three hours or more (up to about 1 child out of 1,000)
- High fever, over 105°F (about 1 child out of 16,000).
Controlling fever is especially important for children who have had
seizures, for any reason. It is also important if another family member has had a history of seizures. You can reduce fever and pain by giving your child an aspirin-free pain reliever when the shot is given, and for the next 24 hours, following the package instructions.
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