title: The febrile stress of routine vaccination does not increase central apnoea in normal infants.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that the febrile stress of routine vaccination would increase central apnoea in normal infants. Twenty-one normal infants had continuous overnight breathing and temperature recorded at home, before and after 58 routine vaccination episodes. Central apnoea, of at least 5 sec duration, was detected by computer algorithm and confirmed by human inspection. The longest recorded apnoea was 16 sec (n = 1) during 3629 h of sleep. Overnight rectal temperature increased after vaccination (median 0.52 degrees C, 95% CI 0.40, 0.65). Apnoea density reduced on 46/53 vaccination nights (median -29%, 95% CI -20, -37) followed by an increase on subsequent nights (median +10%, 95% CI +1%,+21%). Overall, apnoea density was similar during the 3 nights preceding and 4 nights following vaccination (median +1%, 95% CI +9,-6). The febrile stress of routine vaccination did not increase central apnoea in normal infants.
authors.affiliation: Community Paediatric Unit, HealthLink South, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tappin
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Macey
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dove
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D012895:Sleep, REM; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects*