Severe allergic reaction to vaccines
Q. My 4 year-old had anaphylaxis after chickenpox, DTP, polio, and MMR vaccinations at the same time. Immediately, in our pediatrician’s office, he complained of his throat hurting, was sneezing, drooling , threw up and had red, itchy skin and trouble breathing. My son doesn’t have hay fever, and we don’t have a family history of allergies. Do you have any idea what could be causing these reactions?
A. Your child’s reactions may be related to gelatin, which is added as a stabilizer to some vaccines - and found in both MMR and chickenpox vaccines. The possibility of gelatin allergy will be evaluated by the allergist, who can perform either blood testing to look for a specific antibody to gelatin, or skin prick testing to a substance containing gelatin.
Q. My 4 year-old son recently had anaphylaxis after the following vaccinations were given at the same time: chickenpox, DTP, polio, and MMR. Immediately after these immunizations in our pediatrician’s office, he complained of his throat hurting, was sneezing, drooling , threw up and had red, itchy skin and trouble breathing. He was taken by ambulance to the ER, and treated with shots including epinephrine. In the past, he has had drooling and vomiting after eating a piece of protein chocolate bar and when taking his gummy vitamins, and complained of his throat hurting after eating marshmallows.
We are scheduled to see an allergist. My son doesn’t have any hay fever, and we don’t have a family history of allergies. Do you have any idea what could be causing these reactions?
A. From what you mention, your child’s reactions may be related to gelatin, which is added as a stabilizer to some vaccines - and found in both the MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella) and chickenpox (varicella) vaccines. Yellow fever vaccine and rabies vaccine also contain gelatin, but are not part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Neomycin, an antibiotic, is another ingredient in some vaccines which can be related to allergic reactions; this may also result in a reaction if used with topical application (as in "triple antibiotic" antibacterial skin creams, sold over-the-counter). In your child’s case, there is the additional information of reactions with foods that typically contain gelatin, leading us to suspect this ingredient in particular. The possibility of gelatin allergy will be evaluated by the allergist, who can perform either blood testing to look for a specific antibody to gelatin, or skin prick testing to a substance containing gelatin. Skin testing to each vaccine can be also done by the allergist, to determine which one caused the reaction. From the list of ingredients, the common culprit in the vaccine(s) and in the foods can then be identified. Your child should have self-injectable epinephrine prescribed for use in case of life-threatening allergic reactions/anaphylaxis, as you have described with the vaccine and food reactions. Given the circumstances, any further vaccinations should be held - and foods containing gelatin avoided - until the exact cause of reactions has been determined.