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V nasty reaction to pre-school booster........................anyone else had this experience?

27 replies

Aero · 29/09/2004 22:28

DD had her pre-school (if a little late) booster on Monday and has just had the nastiest reaction to it. It had all the usual reactions you'd expect - ie redness, hardness and tenderness at the site of the injection, but this morning, it had gone a v strange browny green colour about the size of a 10p piece. Told her teacher it was sensitive and to call me if any problems. I was a bit concerned, but not overly so. Well, when I picked her up after school, it had grown to around 6cms in diametre (the brown bit that is), was slightly weepy and was covered in tiny pimply blisters. Rang NHS direct who said call GP. GP wanted to see it straight away and by the time we got there it was 10x8cms! She has prescribed piriton and also anti-biotics (for if it gets worse overnight after trying with the piriton. She said she'd never seen a allergic reaction like it and was worried about infection, but to treat it as an allergy first.
Am keeping an eye on it and have drawn a big purple circle aroud it to see if it changes again in size. She's never had a reaction before, and this was so alarming both for her and me. It's very angry looking and sore and she's been very brave, poor wee mite, and I wondered if anyone else had an unusual reaction - I mean other than what you'd expect after a tetanus jab!

OP posts:
Aero · 29/09/2004 23:10

Anyone?

OP posts:
Socci · 30/09/2004 00:39

Message withdrawn

Chandra · 30/09/2004 01:03

No, may I suggest you talk to Jimjams? I think she is the most informed about vaccines here.

essbee · 30/09/2004 01:20

Message withdrawn

Jimjams · 30/09/2004 07:26

Was her arm swabbed before the jab was given? I did read recently (can't remember which paper- one of the broadsheets _ i'm thinking Telegraph- but I don't know why as I never get the Telegraph!) about a very similar reaction and it had occurred because the nurse hadn't swabbed the area first (by swab I just mean using an alcoholic wipe or something- nothing too elaborate) and so it had become infected.

Tetanus jabs can become kind of ulcerated though (a known side effect- and I would have expected your GP to recognise that type of reaction as its not unusual) so if it continues to get worse take her straight back to the GP.

I do remember my smallpox jab did something similar (ended up looking like a fried egg- everyone at school used to gather round to to say yuk) but i think that was quite common with smallpox jabs.

GeorginaA · 30/09/2004 09:09

I've read that recently too, Jimjams. I can't remember where either. Do you remember the reasoning behind not swabbing anymore? Was it because some people were allergic to the swab?

littlemissbossy · 30/09/2004 09:21

sorry no experience of this, but you could look at the gov website for information www.immunisation.org.uk
HTH and it clears up soon

Jimjams · 30/09/2004 09:47

I think it was actually a GP that did it Georgina and she was in a rush- but I may be remembering that incorrectly. I'm sure they are meant to swab- they certainly still swab me before taking blood.

GeorginaA · 30/09/2004 09:50

Ah, the article I read stated that it wasn't policy to swab anymore. I'm pretty sure ds2 wasn't swabbed during his recent vaccinations. I'll see if I can hunt for it.

GeorginaA · 30/09/2004 09:53

Here you go:

Why We've Lost Our Faith In Doctors

GeorginaA · 30/09/2004 09:53

Looks like a very similar reaction to aero's dd.

Aero · 30/09/2004 14:01

Hi everyone - thanks for all your posts - have only just got to the pc now!!
Well, by this morning it had got very slightly bigger, but hadn't grown anywhere near as much as it had yesterday, so the piriton must have helped slightly. I decided to go ahead though with the Flucoxacillan because it was bigger and still ever so hot and sore and the same treatment worked wonders when I had mastitis! She has gone off to school and has her piriton with her and everyone is aware of the problem, but she's otherwise ok and getting plenty of sympathy. Her GP did say they would need to report her reaction - who do they report it to?
I have to say it really did shock me - it looks really horrible! Hope she's ok today, but I've not had the call from school to come and get her, so assume it's not worsened any further.

OP posts:
Aero · 30/09/2004 14:02

ps - no she wasn't swabbed - the nurse just wiped off the anaesthetic gel with a cotton wool ball.

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Aero · 30/09/2004 14:08

Yes GA - that describes it pretty well - her skin looks just like the preverbial frankfurter!!

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Aero · 30/09/2004 14:45

Going off to collect her now. Fingers crossed!

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Jimjams · 30/09/2004 18:57

so why don't they swab anymomre- they still swab adults (me anyway?) I've been recalled for a blood test next week so I will watch carefully! i did have to sign a consent form for nursery allowing them to use an alcoholic wipe if either of the ds's fell over- as I commeneted to the manager how stupid it was (she agreed but said they were no longer allowed to use them).

Surely an infection is worse than an alcoholic wipe? The mind boggles.

Hope she's feeling better soon Aero!

Aero · 30/09/2004 22:58

By this afternoon, it had grown again, though she'd only had one dose of antibiotics by then. Has now had three and will have another before I go to bed and I'm hoping to see some improvement by the morning. Still has lots of blisters which are filled with clear fluid. It's weird the way they're moving away from the site the needle went in. It does annoy me the way the schools make a song and dance about administering medicine - asking me stupid questions like can she administer it herself!!!! She turned four at end of July!! They did it, but not without telling me they weren't allowed to! She's fine in every other way though so defo not bad enough to warrant a day off school! Yet we have to sign forms when they go off on a day trip to say they have permission to say yes to emergency treatment of whatever kind in the event of an accident or illness! It's a mad world - what ever happened to common sense?

OP posts:
whizzz · 01/10/2004 18:28

Anyone else got any tales re: these jabs? Got to take DS next week & now I'm a bit worried. (is this the MMR + Dip/Tetanus/Whooping cough + oral Polio) ??

littlemissbossy · 01/10/2004 18:31

Whizz, my ds had them in July and was 100% well after. Unfortunately, Aero's dd has experienced a rare, but very nasty reaction. Try not to worry too much

littlemissbossy · 01/10/2004 18:31

Whizz, my ds had them in July and was 100% well after. Unfortunately, Aero's dd has experienced a rare, but very nasty reaction. Try not to worry too much

littlemissbossy · 01/10/2004 18:31

oops don't know why that posted twice

whizzz · 01/10/2004 18:41

LMB - I thought I was seeing double !
I'm sure he'll be Ok - its just the thought of 2 jabs !

Aero · 01/10/2004 21:28

He'll be fine whizz! I wouldn't hesitate to take dd again if I neded to, though that's it for her for years now! I'm convinced that her arm was infected - it took five doses of antibiotics before I could see any difference - the piriton had no visible effect though probably took some of the itching out of it. It's starting to recede at last though very slightly, and it's not as hot as it was, though still hot IYSWIM. Also more red than green tonight, so it's on the mend I think. The nurse called me today and needs to see her again for a follow up check and will need to sort out the paperwork, so I guess it has been reported to the powers that be, whoever they are.

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sammac · 01/10/2004 21:30

Glad she's on the mend Aero.

GeorginaA · 01/10/2004 21:33

Thank goodness for that, Aero. Must have been very scary for you all. Does sound more likely it was an infection than an allergy, I must say.

Think I might be taking my own alcohol wipe in to clean ds1's arm before his preschool booster!

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