Question 38

Question:

A child receives several vaccinations before the start of the school year. Shortly thereafter, he experiences a fever, joint pains, a rash and itching. The parents insist on a blood test, which reveals multinucleated giant cells with eosinophilic cytoplasmic and nuclear inclusion bodies. This is most likely a reaction to which vaccine?

Correct Answer: B.  Measles vaccine

The live measles vaccine can cause mild measles symptoms, including multinucleated giant cells (a laboratory test for measles virus). Meningitis vaccine may cause pain and redness at the infection site. Tetanus vaccine may cause a type III allergic reaction at the infection site 24-48 hours after injection. Flu vaccine may cause flu-like symptoms. Some individuals may have a type I anaphylactic reaction to an egg protein used in the vaccine. Pneumococcal vaccine may cause tenderness or redness at the injection site, fever, and joint aches.