Age: 38.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: RAB
Symptoms: Immediate post-injection reaction, Impaired driving ability, Laboratory test, Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, Peripheral swelling
Clinical narrative: This case was reported by a consumer via call center representative and described the occurrence of dizziness in a 38-year-old female patient who received RABAVERT. Co-suspect products included HYPERRAB. The patient's past medical history included thyroidectomy, hepatitis (reaction to PTU (Propylthiouracil) which was given for hyperthyroidism) and septicemia. Concurrent medical conditions included premature ventricular contractions, premature atrial contraction, Graves' disease, sinusitis, renal scarring, spinal disorder (due to car accident), Meniere's disease, labyrinthitis, allergy and rabies. Concomitant products included atenolol, Levothyroxine and Potassium Supplement. On 1st December 2015, the patient received RABAVERT. On an unknown date, the patient received HYPERRAB. On 1st December 2015, immediately after receiving RABAVERT, the patient experienced dizziness, numbness of upper extremities, tinnitus, balance disorder, driving ability disturbed, hot flashes, weakness, sensation of pressure in ear, head pressure, heartbeats skipped, swelling of fingers, throat swelling and confusion. The patient was treated with ALEVE. RABAVERT was discontinued. HYPERRAB was discontinued. On 1st December 2015, the outcome of the numbness of upper extremities, throat swelling and confusion were recovered/resolved. On an unknown date, the outcome of the dizziness, tinnitus, weakness and head pressure were not recovered/not resolved and the outcome of the balance disorder was unknown and the outcome of the driving ability disturbed, sensation of pressure in ear, heartbeats skipped and swelling of fingers were recovered/resolved and the outcome of the hot flashes was recovering/resolving. It was unknown if the reporter considered the dizziness, numbness in upper extremities, tinnitus, balance disorder, driving ability disturbed, hot flashes, weakness, sensation of pressure in ear, head pressure, heartbeats skipped, swelling of fingers, throat swelling and confusion to be related to RABAVERT. Additional details were received as follows: This case was previously reported to a doctor. The patient was positive for Antinuclear antibody. The patient experienced an event to either RABAVERT vaccine or HYPERRAB when receiving them for post-exposure prophylaxis. HYPERRAB was administered in her finger, arm and buttocks. The patient was treated at the hospital because of the rabies exposure but not admitted. She could barely drive home due to her dizziness. The patient's fingers were swelled to twice their size and then resolved after 30 minutes. The patient's throat also swelled and resolved after a few days. Her arms and hands went numb and this numbness resolved after about an hour. She got dizzy and fell back onto the table. She is still experiencing tinnitus, dizziness and a feeling of being off balance. The patient believed most of the events began immediately after receiving RABAVERT and HYPERRAB. The patient underwent Nuclear magnetic resonance test and treated with ALEVE for some events for which, doses were based on her weight of 148 pounds. The patient believed that one of RABAVERT and HYPERRAB caused the reported events and was not receiving any subsequent doses.