Hatrack River Forum: Questions about adverse reaction to tetanus shot

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Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :

I got a tetanus(spelling?) shot on Monday. The area is swollen and red. The red seems to be spreading. It also hurts.

I told the doctor and she gave me a prescription for antibiotics. I have an appointment with her tomorrow.

Can you get tetanus from the shot? Should I be worried? Is it an allergic reaction? [Angst]

Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :

It's either an allergic reaction or a cellulitis. Put ice on it and take the prescription and go to your appt. You'll be just fine. [Smile]

And you won't get tetanus.

Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :

Thank you.

Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :

Every time I have ever gotten a tetanus shot, I've ended up with a huge knot on my arm. It gets red, it gets sore, its a pain in the...well, in the arm. [Smile]

The doctor never seemed to be too concerned about it.

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

I'm allergic to tetanus toxin, so it's not unheard of to have an allergic reaction. (though, really you can become allergic to any medicine)

Instead of what you're describing, I broke out in itchy hives all up and down the arm, it was easily treated with benadryl. You did the right thing - you called the doc. You'll be fine. [Smile]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I get that reaction to all shots, especially tetanus and flu, which make me sick for several days with cold-like symptoms. I'm not allergic, though, just have bad reactions. When I was little I used to get incredibly high fevers. So did my first daughter until she was about 1 1/2, and then it settled down to a low-grade fever and localized swelling for her, too.

Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :

The last time that I got a tetanus shot I got that. It got bigger and bigger for about four days and then it started to shrink. I called the local nurses hotline on day four and asked if I needed to back to the doctor. She told me if it was bigger again the next day to go back but the next day it was smaller so I didn't. She also wanted to know where I got the shot. She told me that it's not an unheard of reaction but that it was uncommon and that they needed to notify the hospital (in my case) so that the doctor could report the batch number to the FDA. That kinda freaked me out.

If you see a red line (like someone has taken a red pen and started drawing a line) on your arm start moving up your arm from the shot area go to the ER as fast as you can. That's an infection and it's moving toward your heart. If it gets there that could be VERY bad.