Age: 18.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: ANTH, HEPA, JEV, OPV
Symptoms: Influenza like illness, Injection site nodule, Insomnia, Irritability, Malaise
Clinical narrative: This 24 year-old is unable to describe the exact progression of his complaints.   He lists prior to receiving his first anthrax vaccination on 8 April 1999 he was extremely active, had good veins, had no allergies or other systemic problems and was in overall good health except for his yearly bronchitis.  He reports approximately 10 April 1999 he noticed nodules at the anthrax injection site with associated numbness and tingling occurring down the vaccinated arm. Within one week post-vaccination, depending on the arm he received his vaccination, that "side would be asleep" and stated he could not feel but could use the affected extremity.  This sensation felt worse while running occurring on and off every few days for weeks.  He then noticed flu like symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fevers (not documented) approximately day 10-14 post first anthrax vaccination.  His initial attempts at self treatment with over the counter cold medications was ineffective so he reported to medical for these complaints stating he was "sometimes seen as malingering as evidenced by the reactions of health care professionals to symptoms expressed."   He reports each successive anthrax vaccination recreated the above flu-like symptoms, numbness and tingling to whichever arm received the vaccination that lasted for 6-12 months.  He reports further symptoms of "extreme irritability, lack of desire for once enjoyed activities, fatigue (false energy') nausea, morning vomiting, onset of allergies with negative skin prick test results, extreme chemical sensitivity, daily sore throats associated with food or environmental triggers, hearing problems as evidenced by poor scores on final military physical, internal ear pain and itching, loss appetite, weight loss, depression, pilonidal cyst, toe nail bed infections, vertigo, malaise, problems focusing, gray outs, twitching with uncontrollable movements, daily diarrhea, moles, skin rashes, back pain with sitting, overall skin pain and sensitivity, memory loss, insomnia, extremities fall asleep quickly, small veins, increased trauma at injection or blood drawing sites, headaches, fever blisters, oral pain and bumps, jaw pain, chills-especially with urination, dizziness, poor balance, thrush, restless leg syndrome, inability to digest allergy pills, vertigo, dizziness and shortness of breath." Over the next 2 years subsequential examinations for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea were often treated with IV fluids for rehydration.  He states he no longer gets bronchitis.  He continues to seek medical care for all the above symptoms with no definitive diagnosis made at this time. His medical records have been requested for chronological order of above symptoms as he has difficulty separating the onset, duration, treatment and persistence of the above symptoms. As of this interview, he describes the numbness and tingling symptoms as if "feeling different" that persists intermittently to his extremities and sides felt mainly when sitting. He complains of a gagging-nausea feeling every other morning with rare vomiting once a month associated with his morning coffee intake.   He also reports daily diarrhea (loose watery) stools 2-3 times in the morning associated with coffee.  He reports a weight change over a one-year time period from August 2002 to August 2003 starting at 170 pounds with an increase to 190 pounds after his release from the military and now is back to 160 pounds despite no change in activity or diet.  He did admit to being depressed during this time period with complaint of chronic fatigue and ear pain and itching that persists today.  He has seen numerous physicians over the last four years with various diagnoses made. An allergist has tested him with negative skin prick test results. He began to research adverse events of anthrax from "VAERS reports" and Internet web sites and finding similarities to all his symptoms.  He states he is concerned about "pneumonia, blood clots, eosinophils, relation to # of shots, mycoplasma, squalene, and strengthening immune system."  He reports a strong family history of depression but has had no personal problems with it and is concerned the immunizations will cause immunoblastic lymphoma (father died from this).