3 y/o daughter had flu shot, now sick - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

Renee016 · 11-27-2003, 07:49 PM

I took my daughter for a flu shot this year because I heard it was supposed to be a bad year for the flu. Her first shot was at the end of October. I was told that she would have to come back in 4 wks because she never had a flu vaccine before and she was under a certain age. So last Saturday I took her for her booster. Sunday afternoon she came down with a fever and has had it ever since. One night it went up to 104.3. I've been giving her Motrin but the fever won't break - it just goes down a few degrees. She vomitted once Sunday afternoon, she is not eating and is complaining of a "headache in my stomach". She is very lethargic - laying around and moans when she gets up. She has a horrible cough and runny nose.

I took her to the doctor twice - chest sounds clear, ears and throat look fine. Culture for strep was negative. Doctors say it's viral and don't think it has anything to do with the shot she recieved.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks, Renee

alleycat · 11-27-2003, 08:00 PM

Try a cold wash cloth over her face. It might help a little. Other than that I don't really know. It sounds to me like she might have had a reaction with the shot. Some people do worse with getting the shot then they do otherwise. But since the doctors don't beleive that is what it is. I have no clue. Good luck and I hope she feels better.

Timber · 11-28-2003, 05:37 AM

Your daughter probably just has a common virus of some sort. Kids get sick A LOT in the fall and winter. It is impossible to get the flu from the flu shot because it has no live virus in it.

Many people call all viral illnesses the flu, but the influenza is actually a specific type of virus. There are tons of other viral infections that can make kids sick.

zuzu8 · 11-28-2003, 06:04 AM

Hi Renee-
Two years ago I went to my doctor's office for a flu shot.
Sat waiting for over an HOUR, surrounded by sneezing, hacking, coughing, sick people!
Got the shot.
Two days later, had the flu.
But it wasn't from the shot per se.
I am sure, in the one hour, that I had gotten infected before the nurse even got that needle into my arm!

If your little girl has a viral infection, there's not much you can do except ride it out, and make her as comfy as possible. Unfortunately antibiotics won't touch it unless it's a bacterial infection, which the doc has ruled out.
If she starts to cough up green or yellow colored phlegm, and the fever won't break, then a secondary bacterial infection might have emerged. Another call to the doc would be in order in that case.

zuzu xx

WrkNmom · 11-28-2003, 08:08 PM

Question... did they do a CBC? (blood test for blood counts) Reason I ask is because my daughter used to get sick a lot. I mean like every few weeks. They'd always wave a hand at the dr. and say... oh it's viral. Well... 2 weeks ago she got the "flu" as you described. I took her to the ER for it eventually and they did CBC's on her. Turns out she has a blood disorder called neutropenia. I'm not saying your daughter has that or anything. Just saying that they can't be sure it's just a virus unless they have done the counts so I just suggest asking them to do CBC.