The clinical findings in a patient complaining of a possible adverse reaction to a vaccine can be graded based on the severity of the signs and symptoms.
Local reactions at the injection site (absent for an oral vaccine):
(1) pain
(2) erythema
(3) swelling
(4) pruritis
Systemic reactions:
(1) fever
(2) chills
(3) headache
(4) generalized body ache, myalgias
(5) tiredness, fatigue
(6) nausea
(7) vomiting
(8) diarrhea
(9) sore and/or swollen joints
(10) rash
(11) cough
(12) other
General criteria
General Criteria |
Grade |
noticeable but does not interfere with activities |
mild |
interferes with activities but does not require medical care or cause absenteeism |
moderate |
incapacitating, requires medical care or causes absenteeism |
severe |
Specific criteria
Reaction |
Mild |
Moderate |
Severe |
temperature |
100.4 - 101.9°F (38 - 38.8°C) |
102 - 103°F (38.9 - 39.4°C) |
> 103°F (> 39.4°C) |
local swelling |
> 0 to 1 inch (<= 2.5 cm) |
1.01 to 2 inches |
> 2 inches (> 5 cm) |
local erythema |
> 0 to 1 inch (<= 2.5 cm) |
1.01 to 2 inches |
> 2 inches (> 5 cm) |
Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Pharmacology, clinical
ICD-10: ,