Question: ?Tuesday Tori had her DTAP and Hep B shot. ?Wed she was fine. ?Thurs her arm from elbow to shoulder started swelling, was hot to the touch and had a red rash. ?Dr saw her yesterday – circled the rash with a marker and said if rash spreads beyond the boundary to start her on antibiotics and assume it was a bacteria infection from the shot (not the imm). ?This morning the redness is spreading down her arm so I will start antibiotics BUT also noticing a rash on chest and tummy starting as well. ?Does this sound like a bacteria infection or an allergic reaction to one of these immunizations? ?Any experience with this? ?Sheeeshhh. ?She is on an alternate schedule too (I support immunizations).
12 responses to “Question”
I guess based on my experience with allergies I would lean towards an allergic reaction. Can giving her things like benedryl help cut back on the spread?
My mother in law had a red, hot spot on her arm that started off small and ended up being like the size of a 50 cent piece. The doctor gave her really strong antibiotics to combat it since he said that it was an infection. So based on that, the infection sounds possible. It just doesn’t really make sense that an immunization would cause that, but what do I know since I haven’t had an experience like that at all with my older two getting immunized. Both the older one never were grumpy, feverish or rashy from any of their immunization and Will hasn’t had any immunizations yet.
I pray that you come to a great conclusion and one that brings her body back to balance.
Well, you saw the pictures of Luke from last year and it was diagnosed as an infection at the injection site. Luke’s got worse as the days went by so that is why I wound up taking him to urgent care on a saturday and getting the antibiotic. Is it still not bothering her or has it started to hurt?
According to what i have been told that if its a reaction it usually happens with in a couple hours, not a day later. Although My youngest boy Jayson broke out in a rash a day later and the clinic wouldnt give him shots after that unless the ped was on staff. The fact that it was hot to touch would tell me infection. Most Rashes due to reactions dont usually have heat, i say usually cuz there is often acceptions to the rule.
I have no experience with reactions from immunizations (allergies or infections) so take this for what it is worth. Gracie gets what I have always assumed were allergic reactions to bug bites that sound just like what you describe with Tori. She’ll get a bite and then the next day it is swollen and red and hard and hot to touch. When she gets them on her face they are worse and she has gone from a little bite on her cheek to half of her face swollen and her eye almost shut. The bad ones can keep getting bigger (slowly) for a couple of days before they turns a corner and the swelling goes back down. We gave her Benadryl the last time and it may or may not have helped, hard to tell. So I guess all I can offer is that I have seen allergy-type reactions that sound similar to what Tori is experiencing. I would still go with the antibiotics, but maybe ask how it would be treated if it were allergic and see if there would be harm in giving her a dose of that, too? You don’t want to overmedicate, I guess, but you don’t want her to suffer either.
Poor little one. Hope she is feeling better very soon.
I agree with Robin allergic reactions typically happen quickly; and they do not normally feel feverish (at the site). Redness, swelling, and hotness indicate infection. I would definately start her on antibiotics as soon as possible. If it were me, I would also include an over the counter antihystamine – just to make her feel better and take away any itchiness she may have.
Poor baby, I hope she feels better soon!!
Oh, the other thing I would say is – with you having a rash on your arm, I would at least consider the possibility that the 2 MAY be related; and if so – what is causing it?? I wouldn’t put this high on my list of possibilities, b/c the symptoms are so different; but definately worth at least investigating.
Poor momma, hope you feel better soon too 🙂
Pulling out the MA books on this one. First of all I think it is best for you to do whatever her doctor is recommending, they seem to know best. In the mean time I found a couple of things that might be interesting.
1.)The risk of DTaP vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Mild Problems (Common)
Fever (up to about 1 child in 4)
Redness or swelling where the shot was given (up to about 1 child in 4)
Soreness or tenderness where the shot was given (up to about 1 child in 4)
These problems occur more often after the 4th and 5th doses of the DTaP series than after earlier doses.
Sometimes the 4th or 5th dose of DTaP vaccine is followed by swelling of the entire arm or leg in which the shot was given, for 1 to 7 days (up to about 1 child in 30).
Other mild problems include:
Fussiness (up to about 1 child in 3)
Tiredness or poor appetite (up to about 1 child in 10)
Vomiting (up to about 1 child in 50)
These problems generally occur 1 to 3 days after the shot.
Moderate Problems (Uncommon)
Seizure (jerking or staring) (about 1 child out of 14,000)
Non-stop crying, for 3 hours or more (up to about 1 child out of 1,000)
High fever, 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (about 1 child out of 16,000)
Severe Problems (Very Rare)
Serious allergic reaction (less than 1 out of a million doses) Several other severe problems have been reported after DTaP vaccine. These include:
Long-term seizures, coma, or lowered consciousness
Permanent brain damage.
These are so rare it is hard to tell if they are caused by the vaccine.
The following harmless reactions to DTaP can occur:
Pain, tenderness, swelling rash or redness at the injection site (in 25% of children) and lasts for 24 to 1 week.
Fever (in 25% of children) and lasts for 24 to 48 hours
Mild drowsiness (30%), fretfulness (30%) or poor appetite (10%) and lasts for 24 to 48 hours.
A large swelling over 4 inches (10 cm) arm can follow the 4th or 5th dose of DTaP occurs in 5% of children. Most children can still move the leg or arm normally.
The large thigh or upper arm swelling resolves without treatment by day 3 (60%) to day 7 (90%). This is not an allergy and future DTaP vaccines can be given.
Controlling fever is especially important for children who have had seizures, for any reason. It is also important if another family member has had seizures.
You can reduce fever and pain by giving your child an aspirin-free pain reliever when the shot is given, and for the next 24 hours, following the package instructions.
2.)Hepatitis B is a very safe vaccine. Most people do not have any problems with it.
Mild problems reported.
Developing rashes (up to 1 month after injection) in infants and toddlers have been reported in association to hepatitis B vaccine. (It is very uncommon, but not a risk. It can be treated with antibiotic’s and local dermatology creams to help reduce itching and spreading)
Soreness where the shot was given (up to about 1 person 4)
Temperature of 99.9?F or higher (up to about 1
person in 15).
Severe problems are extremely rare. Severe allergic reactions (within 24 hours) are believed to occur about once in 1.1 million doses.
A vaccine, like any medicine, could cause a serious reaction. But the risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. More than 100 million people have gotten hepatitis B vaccine in the United States.
not sure if anyone mentioned the possibility of both… or maybe three things… common reaction, infection, and allergic reaction? could it be that maybe it’s not technically an allergy but her body is just saying NO WAY – TOO MUCH – and is just very sensitive to it? good questions i guess… i’d go antibiotics like others have said – at this point it can’t hurt to cover that base and get a head start on infection if there is one. (and feed that baby yogurt if you do! she needs the acidophilus! and clearly i don’t know how to spell that word. 🙂 hee hee)
oh – and – HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANNER!
BRENDA’S BOY KEEGAN WAS BORN THIS MORNING! WHAT GOOD FRIENDS I HAVE TO HAVE THEIR BOYS ON MY ANNIVERSARY. 🙂
HI Doni- Sounds like a reaction to me. We have decided not to vaccinate our kids at this point. I would be more cautious about vaccines with her in the future if you know she is already more sensitive to them. I think many kids can have vaccines and be fine, it is the small percent that for one reason or another that have problems from them, and you just never know until they do have a reaction. Hope she is feeling better soon:)
Lorene
oops forgot to add hep b is mainly transmitted through intercourse and iv drug use, or the the birth mother tested positve for it, I have read that the vaccine wears off by about 8-10 years, so for us that was one we knew up front we wouldn’t need to do for our little ones. I am completly supportive of people who do choose to vaccinate, my sis for one, but just want to make sure parents have all the info:)
My brother did the same thing as a kid–he had a reaction after getting a DTP. Swelling at site and then rash all over abdomen a day later. His ped at the time told my parents to never give him a DTP shot again. They assumed he reacted to the Pertussis. So, I’d be in no hurry to give her a DTP shot again. How can you know for sure? Hope she gets better soon.