Vaccines > MMR > MMR-DTP
Febrile
Seizures after
MMR and DTP Vaccinations
Measles,
Mumps, & Rubella - MMR Vaccine
Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis - DTP Vaccine
The August 30, 2001 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine
published a study entitled "The Risk of Seizures after Receipt of
Whole-Cell Pertussis or Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine" by William
E Barlow and colleagues.
- What are
febrile seizures and what causes them?
- What are the
health effects of fever-related seizures?
- How often do
fever-related seizures happen after DTP and MMR vaccination?
- When do
fever-related seizures tend to happen?
- Given the risk
of seizures, should parents have their children vaccinated?
- What can be
done to prevent fever-related seizures following vaccination?
- What should you
do if your child has a seizure following a vaccination?
- Who conducted
this study?
- How was the
study done?
-
What are
febrile seizures and what causes them?
Fever-related seizures are the most
common type of seizure that occurs during childhood. These seizures
generally develop when a child’s temperature reaches 103.5 degrees or
higher. Such seizures generally occur between 9 months and 5 years of age,
and have a variety of causes. The most frequent causes of febrile seizures
are viral infections of the upper respiratory tract (e.g., ear infections)
and conditions like roseola. However, fever-related seizures may happen
with any condition that causes a high fever.
-
What are
the health effects of fever-related seizures?
Children who have fever-related seizures
uniformly have an excellent prognosis. This study found that febrile
seizures following vaccination had no long-term effects.
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-
How often
do fever-related seizures happen after DTP and MMR vaccination?
Fever-related seizures following
vaccination are very rare. In this study, the number of fever-related
seizures following DTP vaccination was six to nine per 100,000 vaccinated
children. The number after MMR vaccine was 25 to 34 per 100,000 vaccinated
children.
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When do
fever-related seizures tend to happen?
According to this research, children
vaccinated with DTP vaccine are at most risk for seizures on the day of
the vaccination. Previously it was believed that the risk period was the
same for three days following the vaccination. Fever-related seizures
tended to occur 8 to 14 days after getting the MMR vaccine.
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Given the
risks of seizures, should parents have their children vaccinated?
Yes. Despite the small risk
for seizures linked to fever following vaccination, MMR and DTaP
immunizations are strongly recommended. These vaccines prevent serious
diseases that pose a much greater risk to most children’s health than
the seizures associated with vaccination. Pertussis, for example, is a
highly contagious respiratory disease ("whooping cough") that
can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, and even death. Tetanus, diphtheria,
measles, and mumps can also be life-threatening. Rubella can cause
pregnant women to miscarry or have babies with serious birth defects.
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What can
be done to prevent fever-related seizures following vaccination?
Many pediatricians recommend
giving children an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen
(Tylenol®) at the time the child receives DTP or DTaP. DTaP is a new
vaccine with fewer side effects that has recently replaced DTP in the
United States. Do not give aspirin to a child under 18. Aspirin can
cause Reye's Syndrome, a rare but dangerous disease.
Seizures following DTP
usually occur in the first three days following immunization, with the
greatest frequency happening in the first 24 hours.
Preventing seizures
following an MMR vaccination is more difficult because fever-related
seizures typically occur eight to 14 days following the shot. Still, it
may be helpful to start giving your child an aspirin-free pain reliever as
soon as you notice a fever.
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What
should you do if your child has a seizure following a vaccination?
Contact a medical
professional right away. Although fever-related seizures typically are not
associated with long-term harmful effects, it’s important that your
child be evaluated to rule out other possible health problems.
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Who
conducted this study?
The study was conducted by
researchers from Group Health Cooperative’s Center for Health Studies,
the University of Washington’s departments of Pediatrics and
Epidemiology, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Northwest Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser Permanente of Northern California,
UCLA Center for Vaccine Research, and Southern California Kaiser
Permanente.
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How was
the study done?
Medical records at four large health
maintenance organizations (HMOs) were reviewed. These HMOs are part of the
Vaccine Safety Datalink Project, coordinated by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. In their review, the researchers looked at the
immunization and medical information among among 679,942 children after
340,386 vaccinations with DTP vaccine, 137,457 vaccinations with MMR
vaccine, or no recent vaccination. Children who had febrile seizures after
vaccination were followed to identify the risk of subsequent seizures and
other neurological disabilities.
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