Age: 65.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: FLUX, PPV
Symptoms: Influenza like illness, Injection site erythema, Injection site mass, Injection site pain, Injection site swelling
Clinical narrative: Shot was administered in right arm on 11/11 about 3pm along with flu shot in left arm. Next day I went to work and had no symptoms, until about 8 pm I felt as if I had flu, called in sick and went to bed. Next day I had a temperature of 99.8 (my normal is 97.6), which lasted through 11/15, at one point peaking at about 100.8. My right arm at the injection site swelled until it was painful to touch (felt like a bee sting), I was unable to get out of bed, I had a slight headache, loss of appetite, mild confusion and forgetfulness and general feeling of illness. My husband called the medical facility on 11/13 and was told that I should ice intermittently and take ibuprofen, which I did. (I am allergic to salicylates, so I took only one 200mg ibuprofen/2xdaily.) It was quite painful to ice my arm. On 11/14 my husband drove me to the clinic to see the doctor at 5p; I was unable to sit up, my arm was swelling even more with fluid moving toward my elbow from the injection site high on my arm. Dr. thought it might be serum sickness and gave me a prescription for prednisone and betamethasone in lotion. I suggested taking antihistamines, which she agreed with. We were unable to fill the prescription until 11/15, but I was not interested in taking prednisone, as I had previously taken it before my food allergies were diagnosed, and suffered strong reactions, including hyperactivity and aggressive behavior. I did apply the lotion 2x daily as directed. The swelling ceased growing, but redness and diminishing swelling have persisted until 11/21. Currently there is a swollen lump at the injection site, which is tender and red. I was able to get out of bed on 11/16 and resume some activity, appetite had returned but arm was impossible to touch and raising it above my head or moving it was very painful. I went to work on 11/17, but was slightly confused and disoriented throughout the day (forgot to put on my hat to go home), and my arm was quite sore from using my computer throughout the day. I still feel slightly lethargic, but can now use my arm almost normally. In 1999 I had a previous pneumonia shot, which I do not recall having created a noticeable reaction, certainly nothing like my current experience. I was sensitive to typhoid shots as a child, and avoid penicillin because my brother had a severe allergic reaction (lost his hair) when inoculated. I am allergic to all dairy products and to salicylates, both synthetic and naturally occurring. I break out in hives/skin rashes from cumulative doses and have ringing in my ears. I now take salicylates only in very small doses for short periods. I am unable to tolerate most prescription pills because almost all contain small amounts of lactose (and possibly other compounds) which lead to my skin breaking out. I do wish prescription medications could be made without common allergens, dyes, etc. as it has been incredibly difficult to find those I can tolerate. It occurred to me that my adverse reaction to the pneumonia vaccine could be caused/compounded by additives to the vaccine itself, as my reaction in some aspects reminds me of the most severe stages of my food allergies, especially the lethargy, the formation of what I think are called purpura, and loss of appetite. I do not know the name of the manufacturer of the vaccines.