Question
A one-month-old infant began crying continuously upon returning home after receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine in the morning. The cries were hoarse and unlike their usual sound. Since the infant had jaundice, which recently subsided, the vaccination was chosen for today. The infant had been consuming formula milk for the past few days, but during the crying, they refused to take either formula milk or breast milk. The parents are worried about potential vaccine side effects or the infant feeling pain.
Answer
Generally, receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine does not cause such symptoms in infants. The infant’s crying and refusal to consume formula milk may be related to indigestion. If the infant has bloating or other discomfort, or shows abdominal rigidity while crying, it may indicate indigestion. You can try using probiotics, lactase, or pepsin oral solutions to aid digestion, and massage the navel area clockwise to relieve discomfort. If there is redness and swelling at the injection site, it may be due to pain causing the crying, in which case ice packs or cold towels can be used to alleviate the pain. If the situation does not improve, it is recommended to take the infant to the emergency room for a consultation.