"My baby is four months old and had his regular shots yesterday and now has a fever of 100.5 F and is constantly crying, with a cough that is almost choking him. Should I call my pediatrician?"
You don't mention which shots your child had (I'm assuming it's DTaP, Hib and maybe IPV and PCV if you're on schedule), but many shots will cause a slight fever and general irritability in the 48 hours following (or longer). Most physicians recommend that you remedy this with Tylenol (or other acetaminophen-based pain reliever/fever reducer).
What worries me is the constant crying and cough that is almost choking him. It could be because of an allergic reaction that is causing his throat to swell.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, "After you or your child are vaccinated, look for any unusual conditions, such as a serious allergic reaction, high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness, and swelling of the throat.
You should call your pediatrician immediately to rule this out. Be sure to have ready the information you gave me and any other symptoms that may have developed.
Do you have a question you'd like to see answered? You can send your questions to me at babyparenting.guide@about.com and I will answer them here on the site.
