Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Hives after the Flu Vaccination

My son is 6 months of age and recently got his first of two flu vaccinations. A day or two after the shot he started to break out in hives. Everytime he got hot, cried, anything seemed to set them off. Now, he has never been the least bit sick, no fevers or anything.  I called the dr. and they said to try to trace it back to the source. My husband and I thought about food that might have changed or new soaps, but the only thing we came up with was the flu shot he had received. My question is: First, do you think it's from that or are we over reacting? Second, if it could be from that, should he get his second shot?
8 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
4851940 tn?1515694593
Some people are allergic to the flu vaccines.  Like Enoch Choi, MD says, the vaccine contains traces of egg and that is the cause of the allergy.

When I have had the vaccine in the past, I have always been asked if I have an allergy to eggs.  I am asthmatic so get offered the vaccine every year.  I refuse to have it now because they add the swine flu vaccine in it as well.  My mother has stopped having the vaccine too as every time she had the vaccine she would feel very ill with flu-like symptoms. She is over 80 and diabetic.

The flu vaccine does not contain live strains of the virus, and is not effective against all flu viruses.  Therefore, even if you have the vaccine, you still may get flu from a different strain.

If your son has not had egg in his diet before, then there is a possibility that he is allergic to the vaccine.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,
I had a influenza vaccine 18 days ago and half our later my throat started to ger tight but i was breathing normal and was swallowing normal. No swelling either, no hives, no rash no itching. By tge time I was heading to ER itvwentvaway. I called my doctor and my doctor didn't believe that  i had an allergic reaction and told me that i must have had an anxiety attack and to take Xanax ( i have panic disorder) i took xanax and my throat stabilized  completely in half hour  Anyway 8 days after i felt  like a thumb was oushing on my throat.like choking.  Doctor said it is reflux , it went away after i took antacid  in two days . Two weeks after, i started to get very little like pimples but only two or three of them at my back and they are itchy. They go away though but then they pop up at different part if my  back or abdomen area of my body when I go out to cold weather. And they go away in half an hour when i gominside. I never had a reaction to cold or food or any flu vaccine before. But since I got this flu vaccinevthis year in Jan 10  i had all these problems! It is the vaccine. Never again! Made an appointment to an alergist immunologist  with in 4 weeks. I need to get tested to find out what in that vaccine is causing all this!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Joining the conversation late... our 17-month old son broke out in hives a few hours after his 2nd flu shot, and it came daily for 10 days or so. He had never had any rash/hives before that. Now, 2 weeks later, we notice a few rash marks now and then. We have seen no reaction to eggs, and we don't believe anything new was introduced into his environment. At least the rashes don't seem to bother him. Probably something in the flu shot... Anyone else have a similar experience?

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This is very interseting...  I gave my 19month old the flu vacine two days ago and he broke out in hives as well.  The immunisation clinic said there was no reason the flu vacine should have done it as I have never noticed any reaction to eggs in him.
This seems a little more than a coincidence!
Again, I am hesitant to give the second shot.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
We seem to be having a similar scenario and it has continued for the last 3 months. Do you have any updates?

My 5 year old got his first flu vaccine in November. Since the day he got it, any exposure to serious cold will give him hives. Initially, it would be large splotches all over his body. Three months later, it has gotten a little better but he still gets small red splotches on his face or hands.

At the moment, the trigger seems to be cold temperatures.He went cycling in sunny 45 degree weather and came back with hives.

No food allergies at all. He can eat eggs galore and not have any reaction.

We, and our pediatrician, have yet to sort out what it is or why. Our pediatrician does not believe that the flu shot had anything to do with it and recommends a set of allergy tests.

He went on vacation to a warmer climate for 2 months and had no reactions. It might have been that there is something in our house that, in combination with the cold, that causes the reaction but we do not know what yet.
Helpful - 0
3 Comments
Hi, i know this post is very old, but my daughter has the same problem, she had the stupid flu shot and now every time is cold she break out in hives, did you ever find a solution or diagnostic? we tried changing everything food, soap, clothes, carpets. nothing worked, thanks
Hi, i know this post is very old, but my daughter has the same problem, she had the stupid flu shot and now every time is cold she break out in hives, did you ever find a solution or diagnostic? we tried changing everything food, soap, clothes, carpets. nothing worked, thanks
My son got the flu shot Monday 19th and broke out in hives all over on that Thursday. He has had hives all over him for a week now.  (He's never had hives or allergies. He eats eggs regularly no issue).  I'm giving him zyrtec but it doesn't seem to help.  What else can I do? This is is 3rd round of flu shots (he's 2.5).  Will they go away or will this be something he has to deal with forever now?
242516 tn?1368223905
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
it's not common but it's been reported in the literature that people can get an allergic urticarial (hives) rash from the influenza vaccine.  

From the 1st time ever being exposed, it's most likely from an egg allergy since trace amounts of egg protein are in the flu shot since it's incubated in eggs.

From the 2nd time being exposed it could be from antibodies developed against the shot from the 1st time (this is not the case for your son)

Egg and other food allergies are not common in children as young as 6 months.

Ask your doctor.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
My son got the flu shot Monday 19th and broke out in hives all over on that Thursday. He has had hives all over him for a week now.  (He's never had hives or allergies. He eats eggs regularly no issue).  I'm giving him zyrtec but it doesn't seem to help.  What else can I do? This is is 3rd round of flu shots (he's 2.5).  Will they go away or will this be something he has to deal with forever now?
Avatar universal
Honestly, I don't know. It might be something he ate, but we have not changed his diet. hmmm, I will do some more investigating. Thank you for your quick response.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i cant say dont get him his shots again.  but you are sure its not anything.  like my daughter use to love red juice and now she cant have it.  some kids do have bad reactions to shots..  my nephew broke out in hives from the shot.  and the flu shot can also give you the flu just not as bad.  i would say watch him closely for the next couple of days.  if it really bothers him the hives i mean give him benedryl or anti itch cream, a warm cloth even dont rub cloth pat it.  my daughter has seizure and gets the hives from time to time and that is what the hospital and doctors say to do.  and it really seems to help.  
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Cold and Flu Community

Top General Health Answerers
19694731 tn?1482849837
AL
80052 tn?1550343332
way off the beaten track!, BC
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.