Is there an increased risk for febrile seizures after childhood vaccines?
Febrile seizures can occur when a child has a fever from any cause. They are most common after infections, including those that can be prevented by vaccination. But in rare instances, febrile seizures can occur after vaccination. Studies have shown that there is a small increased risk for febrile seizures during the first to second week after vaccination with measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and the first dose of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. DTP (whole cell pertussis) vaccine is no longer used in the United States, but when it was in use there was also a small increased risk for febrile seizures after DTP on the day the vaccine was given. Studies have not shown an increased risk for febrile seizures after the acellular pertussis vaccine, DTaP, or after varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.
