The effect of prophylactic acetaminophen administration on reactions to DTP vaccination
K. Lewis, J. D. Cherry, M. H. Sachs, D. B. Woo, R. C. Hamilton, J. M. Tarle and G. D. Overturf
Department of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
To determine the effect of prophylactic acetaminophen on reactions after
diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccination, 282 children
received either acetaminophen or placebo in a double-blind, randomized
fashion before and 3, 7, 12, and 18 hours after vaccination. Fever and
local and systemic reactions were monitored. Switching to known
acetaminophen was permitted if the patient's temperature was 38.9 degrees C
or higher or for moderate pain. Overall, the reaction score of
acetaminophen recipients was significantly less than that of placebo
recipients. The rates of occurrence of fever and fussiness and the degree
of pain at the injection site were significantly reduced by acetaminophen
administration. Children who received acetaminophen were less likely to be
switched to "open" acetaminophen than placebo recipients. It is concluded
that prophylactic acetaminophen as given in this study had a moderating
effect on fever, pain, and fussiness after diphtheria and tetanus toxoids
and pertussis immunization.
