Authors

1 Julia Pérez Alonso, 2 Raquel Simón Macho, 3 José Antonio López- Villalobos

Position

1 Enfermera de Pediatría. Centro de Salud Pintor Oliva. Palencia. 2 Enfermera Especialista en Enfermería Familiar y Comunitaria. Gerencia de Atención Primaria de Palencia.3 Psicólogo clínico. Salud Mental. Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Palencia.

Contact email: jperezalo@saludcastillayleon.es

Abstract

Introduction: meningitis is an inflammation of membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, and can result in an invasive meningococcal disease. Serogroup B meningococci showed the highest incidence rates in the 2017-2018 season. A serogroup B menincococcal vaccine has been marketed since 2013. Its use was started in 2017 in the Health Area of Palencia, Spain.
Purpose: we aimed at studying potential adverse effects of immunization to prevent meningitis B in a pediatric population in the Health Area of Palencia, and the effect of prophylactic acetaminophen (paracetamol) administration to reduce side effects.
Methods: an observational, descriptive, analytical study. Descriptive and exploratory statistics were used. A significance α level < 0.05 was used to analyze associations.
Results: the most common adverse effect was acute local pain (40.6%) followed by irritability (32.1%), fever (29.1%), and unusual crying (20.6%). A statistically significant association was found between prophylactic acetaminophen use and fever, painful joints, irritability, and unusual crying.
Conclusion: immunization against meningitis B is associated to adverse effects. Prophylactic use of acetaminophen does not seem to reduce fever and is associated to a higher rate of fever and other adverse effects.

Keywords:

immunization; meningococcal meningitis; side effectsdrug-related adverse reactions

Versión en Español

Título:

Efectos adversos de la vacunación frente a enfermedad meningocócica por serogrupo B (4CMenB)