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Short-term reactions to gadolinium contrast are typically transient and occur soon after the injection, such as nausea, headache, or a sensation of warmth as the agent circulates. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, on the other hand, is not an immediate reaction; it is a rare, long-term fibrosing condition that can develop in patients with significant kidney impairment after gadolinium exposure, often weeks to months later. Modern practice minimizes this risk by assessing kidney function and preferentially using safer agents in at-risk patients. Therefore, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is not a short-term effect.