questions about immunisation after effects

[Mrs Nietzsche]

excuse typing - holding ds

ds had an adverse reaction to his 2 mth shots... screamed with high pitch for 12 hours, bowel disrupted for 2 weeks or so. screaming started an hour after shots.

he had the 4mth shots at 5.5 mths... was very unsettled but not as distressed as with previous shots.

he just had the 6 mth shots at 12 mths but did not have the rota vaccine. he was perfectly fine this time, no reaction.

would this be from being much older? or was it the rota vaccine that had caused the probs?

also one one arm he still has a hard hot lump - is this normal? it is macadamia sized. i know lump is normal but its 3 days later.

ty!

[missie_mack]

Could be either or. Did he receive exactly the same vaccine on both occassions for the other and had he taken any other meds before the earlier?
The lump is a reaction. You should massage it. No one that size isn't normal but nor is it abnormal. If it doesn't clear in a couple of days take it back to the GP

[Mrs Nietzsche]

Hello missie... I googled rotavirus vaccine side effects a bit and I think that the fact he had no reaction this time is probably just being much older. Because side effects for the rota vacc are all listed as diahroea, can get ear infection,runny nose, etc - not endless high pitched screaming. He had the same vaccines exactly each time. I guess the difference in your system development when youare 2 mths compared to 12 mths makes it reasonable that you'd maybe handle a vaccine better.

Ty for info re lump. It is very pronounced though does not seem to be bothering him. I had not touched it as it looks sore - massaging will help break it down though?

[missie_mack]

If its sore I would massage it with a warm cloth. Just incase it has some blood clotting and the like.

The lump could be associated with lots of things but generally is a reaction to the preservative used which is quite commonly formaldehyde. If you google formaldehyde and its use in embalming and the likes it will make sense.

[missie_mack]

Maire, both of the rota virus vaccines are live and your description isn't unlike a rotavirus situation. I don't have much knowledge about rotavirus as it was introduced to the schedule only in more recent years when my husband has stopped working in the industry as well as after the birth of our son.

However here is some information about the clinical trials
http://secure.healthlinks.net.au/content/csl/pi.cfm?product=csprotat10607

http://www.gsk.com.au/resources.ashx/vaccineproductschilddataproinfo/116/FileName/32AE8B6050D22D6F9145C3F882B3238B/PI_Rotarix.pdf

HTH

[Josh]

Can I ask why he had his shots in his arm, usually they do it in the legs, especially at the 2/4/6 mth shots, giving them in the legs is far better on bub less pain and not such big lumps.

[ck2b]

Yeah-this is a good question. It is completely against the recommendations to vaccinate children this age in their arms. I would complain about that.

[Mrs Nietzsche]

They said because he was 12 mths it was better in the arms :confused:

[Josh]

They said because he was 12 mths it was better in the arms :confused:

It probably depends on who does it, I always go to the immunisation clinic and the nurses there always do the legs even up to the 18mth shot,I think from memory my older kids got the 4/5yr old shot in the arm.