Is it concerning if an infant vomits post-vaccination?

Question

Hello doctor,

My daughter, who is one and a half months old, has been vomiting after every feed for the past three hours. She has also received her first dose of vaccination recently. She is currently taking vitamin D3 and calcium supplements. Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

We feel glad that you reached out to us.

There are two potential explanations in this specific case. Following rotavirus vaccination (a highly contagious virus primarily affecting infants and young children), an infrequent complication known as intussusception (a medical condition where one part of the intestine telescopes into another part, causing a blockage) can occur, leading to recurrent vomiting and potentially requiring surgical intervention. However, it typically does not manifest immediately after vaccination.

Alternatively, the child may have experienced exacerbated reflux (when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus) due to the vaccination, mainly if the vaccine caused discomfort.

Medications such as Perinorm (Metoclopramide) and Rantac (Ranitadine) can be initiated if reflux is suspected. Kindly consult a specialist, talk to them, and take the medications with their consent. However, it is crucial to note that reflux is a diagnosis made by ruling out other potential causes like intussusception or intestinal obstruction. We can confidently diagnose reflux and proceed with appropriate treatment only after excluding these possibilities.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert so I can assist you further.

Thank you.