OT: Problems with Hep A vaccine

[CGold4]

Took my two year old for a routine checkup today where he received a scheduled Hep A shot and a standard blood test.

Not more than ten minutes after we leave, my son passed out and went completely lethargic in the truck. Considering we live 20-30 minutes from the hospital, an ambulance was called. He was out for nearly 20 minutes unresponsive but breathing fine.

All his vitals were good but his blood sugar was slightly low which i don’t understand keeping in mind he had eaten lunch and a few cookies and a cup of juice before his appointment- so I can’t see the blood work affecting a healthy kid with a full belly. Also have found a few sites that say Hep A shots can cause drowsiness or fainting.

He’s my first kid so today really scared the hell out of me, more so than anything has before. Has anyone ever seen/had such side affects to a hepititis vaccine?

 

[preacher_dawg]

Sorry to hear that, praying for your little one

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

I dunno specifically about Hep A, but vaccines can definitley cause some reactions.

I’m sure that experience terrified you, I’m glad your boy is ok now.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

That's terrible. I am no doctor, but I would want full blood labs worked up at minimum. A lot of kids at that age are highly prone to iron deficiency which can induce anemia. This could help contribute to the fainting. It's not a huge deal, but you want to be on top of it.

I am pretty certain fainting from low blood sugar would be 5 minutes or less, but shots can be traumatic for little ones and it could just be that he was feeling bad and didn't tell you before the shot. Kids can't communicate how they feel very well so they are probably sick a lot than we know.

We all think we have the best pediatricians, but I find it's usually the wife's friends/sister/mom that recommends the pediatrician. I have recently learned that they hired help and it's my job to research the best option for the kiddos. If he/she doesn't think something is a big deal and you do, make sure they explain why it's no big deal. I recently fired ours because he thought his job was to be a comedian and brushed off our concerns. We moved to a bigger office with more doctors and better sheepskins.

At the new doc, she heard heard a murmur on my oldest during his first visit and brought in colleagues, all figured it was okay, but ordered an EKG/echo any way. We went to the specialist and he was glad we came, but all was good. We were glad to pay a few hundred dollars for the peace of mind. Once you have an incident make sure your doctor runs through all of the possibilities. If you are in a small town, that may mean driving to a bigger city to get better care.

Hire conservative accountants not pediatricians. Good luck and obviously prayers and thoughts are with you and the little dawg.

 

[CGold4]

Sorry to hear that, praying for your little one

Much appreciated. He’s fine now, like nothing ever happened- thankfully.

 

[CGold4]

That's terrible. I am no doctor, but I would want full blood labs worked up at minimum. A lot of kids at that age are highly prone to iron deficiency which can induce anemia. This could help contribute to the fainting. It's not a huge deal, but you want to be on top of it.

I am pretty certain fainting from low blood sugar would be 5 minutes or less, but shots can be traumatic for little ones and it could just be that he was feeling bad and didn't tell you before the shot. Kids can't communicate how they feel very well so they are probably sick a lot than we know.

We all think we have the best pediatricians, but I find it's usually the wife's friends/sister/mom that recommends the pediatrician. I have recently learned that they hired help and it's my job to research the best option for the kiddos. If he/she doesn't think something is a big deal and you do, make sure they explain why it's no big deal. I recently fired ours because he thought his job was to be a comedian and brushed off our concerns. We moved to a bigger office with more doctors and better sheepskins.

At the new doc, she heard heard a murmur on my oldest during his first visit and brought in colleagues, all figured it was okay, but ordered an EKG/echo any way. We went to the specialist and he was glad we came, but all was good. We were glad to pay a few hundred dollars for the peace of mind. Once you have an incident make sure your doctor runs through all of the possibilities. If you are in a small town, that may mean driving to a bigger city to get better care.

Hire conservative accountants not pediatricians. Good luck and obviously prayers and thoughts are with you and the little dawg.

That’s the exact reason the labs were ordered. Testing for anemia. I’ve trusted this pediatrician for years, having known his family throughout school and such. I just wonder if maybe the weight to blood ratio that they took was off or if it could very well have been a side affect to the vaccine.

Either way it’s safe to say we’ll be in the market for a new pediatrician and answers to today.

I appreciate the kind words. Wouldn’t wish those few moments on any parent.