title: The effect of prophylactic acetaminophen administration on reactions to DTP vaccination.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tarle
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Overturf
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D011292:Premedication; D011897:Random Allocation; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D000082:Acetaminophen