Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

Which of the following vaccines is likely associated with fever in infants?

1. Influenza vaccine

2. Diphtheria vaccine

3. MMR vaccine

4. DTP vaccine

The correct answer is: DTP vaccine

The DTP vaccine, which stands for Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis, is notably associated with fever in infants. This combination vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce a protective response against three serious diseases. As the immune system reacts to the antigens in the vaccine, it can lead to common side effects, including fever. Fever is a well-documented reaction, especially after the pertussis component, which tends to elicit a stronger immune response. The fever typically occurs within a day or two of vaccination and is usually mild, resolving on its own within a short period. In contrast, while other vaccines like the influenza vaccine and the MMR vaccine can lead to mild fevers, they are generally not as commonly associated with fever in infants as the DTP vaccine. The DTP vaccine's components and the quick immune response it triggers are key factors in its tendency to result in fever.