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Hives from Hepatitis Vaccination

Hi,

Maybe you can help shed some light on my problem.

1. November 1997 took hepatitis #1 shot. Had mouth swelling and itching, given Prednisone and Benadryl and Cortisone shot.
2. December 1997 took hepatitis #2 shot. One small patch, less than 1 cm of redness on my thumb.
3. May 1998 took Hepatitis #3 shot. Have hives, redness, itching, welt marks on legs, arms, back.
Starts as a tingling and then whelps appear and then itch like crazy and then if I mess with them they start to burn. Given Benadryl, Prednisone, Cortisone shot, and Allegra.

Allergra helps a lot, but if I miss a dose, they come back. Dr. said if Allegra doesn't help, might be allergic to the medicine in the shot and will have to take Allegra or something for the rest of my life because the shot is in me.

Please help.
Your third opinion counts too.

Snooky

Dear Snooky,

I have never seen a patient who has developed an allergic reaction to the antigens in the Hepatitis B vaccine. There can always be a first time.

Hives after a vaccination are usually not life long in duration. They usually go away after the immune system is done processing the material/antigens which induced the reaction in the first place.

Patients with hives need to take antihistamines for as long as they have the hives. You will likely be the first to know when you no longer require the antihistamine treatments which do at least relieve the itching and the swellings.

I hope this info is helpful. Good luck.

Steve Kagen, M.D.
Allernet.com