Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Red And Swollen Arm After Pneumonia Vaccination
Question: My 94 year old mother received a pneumonia vaccination last week. Her upper arm is now red, swollen, hot to touch. The redness is spreading down her arm towards her elbow. What should we do?
Brief Answer:
medical assessment is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
pneumococcal vaccination commonly causes local reaction with redness, swelling and minor pain. Excessive redness, pain, swelling and hot skin indicate inflammation. If it's too prominent local infection has to be excluded. This is something to be done by your primary care physician with clinical examination and - if required - with appropriate lab tests like white blood cell count and C-reactive protein.
If she also has fever then visiting the doctor becomes even more necessary.
Keep in mind though that in most cases the local reaction usually wears off within 24 hours or so and that local infection after vaccination is a very rare event.
So in conclusion, although the most likely cause of these symptoms is just a local reaction to vaccination (which is very common) medical assessment is required to exclude skin infection, particularly if she runs a fever.
Kind Regards!
medical assessment is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
pneumococcal vaccination commonly causes local reaction with redness, swelling and minor pain. Excessive redness, pain, swelling and hot skin indicate inflammation. If it's too prominent local infection has to be excluded. This is something to be done by your primary care physician with clinical examination and - if required - with appropriate lab tests like white blood cell count and C-reactive protein.
If she also has fever then visiting the doctor becomes even more necessary.
Keep in mind though that in most cases the local reaction usually wears off within 24 hours or so and that local infection after vaccination is a very rare event.
So in conclusion, although the most likely cause of these symptoms is just a local reaction to vaccination (which is very common) medical assessment is required to exclude skin infection, particularly if she runs a fever.
Kind Regards!
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
