Reaction to vaccination on leg - how worried should I be?

[tellnoone]

My DD 16mo had 2 vaccinations on thursday, one in each leg. One was MMR and other was pneumococcal. Her left leg is having a bad reaction - very red, raised, hot, inflammed, an area around the injection site about 4cm across. On the red book it says left thigh pneumococcal. She is fine otherwise, just worried about the red patch.

1. How worried should I be about the reaction? does it sound normal?

2. left vs right - 'left thigh' written in the red book does this mean DD's left or doesn it mean left as you are looking at her from the front?

I thought I heard the nurse say the MMR may have a reaction, not the pneumoccal. I'm just a bit confused about which one is having the reaction.

I can't ring the GP surgery because it's closed all weekend. Feel like a terrible mum for not checking it properly Friday while there was still time to go to the GP before it shut (was a work all day, DD in nursery, then took DS to swimming lesson etc).

3. should I take her to the out of hours GP?

It's probably fine but you could nip along to a walk in centre for example if you're worried.

DD had a hard, raised, red lump (about 3cm across) after her pneumococcal and it was there for a little over a week, turned into a bruise and went away.

If she gets a fever or becomes unwell go to the GP.

My Dd always reacted to jabs like that. The red lump could last quite awhile too.

I would say it sounds normal to me, but, if you are concerned get it checked if only for your own peace of mind.

It means the child's left leg.

How big is the rash/circle around injection site?

My DD1 had a really bad reaction like this to her initial jabs. Very angry, hot, raised, red swelling on her leg which lasted a few days. I think it's actually fairly common from what some other mums have said but if you are worried there is no harm in checking it out.

this happened to my Dd1 too when she had her pre-school jabs, very hot red lump, about 5ins wide. It did settle after a few days, I put a post on here too about it..

Thanks for all the replies.

The size of the area is about 4 cm across, but it's not totally circular so it's bigger on one side of the injection site and smaller on the other iyswim.

It's reassuring that others have had similar reactions but had no serious problems. Thanks for clarifying about the left vs right.

She does seem absolutely fine otherwise so I think she will be ok. I'll keep an eye on it and get help if she seems unwell/fever etc.

Thanks for reassuring me, I feel a bit better now

After our expereince I would draw around the rash with a biro so you can see if it grows. If it gets bigger than a 10p piece, call for advice.

NAB it's much bigger than a 10p piece!

So I rang NHS direct and they said it sounds like a minor problem at the moment and suggested going to the pharmacy for anti-histamines, and if the pharmacist thinks she needs to see a dr, NHS direct will make an appointment in that case.

I'm off out now to the pharmacist.

If the reaction is bigger than a 10p piece then it is reportable (I think they call this the yellow form?).

We were advised to seek medical help when this happened with my DD.

I would go to the GP or A&E tbh.

My son had his prechool booster and then went to my inlaws. She phoned at 4pm to say he had a rash. I picked him up and had to take him to A&E. (Was at doctors when MIL rang and the nurse said get him to hospital)

He had cellulitis and was hairs breath from having to be put on a drip.

If you want to take a photo I would be happy to see if it is the same as my son's.

Anti -h did nothing to help my son btw.

Sometimes helps to put a cool/cold damp flannel on the injection site as a compress - helps take some of the heat out.

How is she today?

She is doing fine Thanks for asking NAB, and for your help and everyone who posted.

Today all the redness and swelling has just about completely gone, so I'm really happy.