Baby's red, swollen, hot legs - Advice?

[jollymum]

I came across this whilst doing a search on google (naughty I know!) - exactly the same thing has happened to my little boy.

He had his 12 week vaccinations and a few hours later he started crying hysterically (something he's never done before) and nothing we could do would calm him down. We noticed that one of his legs was very very red and swollen so we quickly lay him down and stripped him off. After 5-10 mins he calmed down and the redness went (although there were a few spots in the area that had been red). We thought it was a direct effect of the jab but the same thing happened a week later only this time it was both of his legs. You could literally draw a line mid way down his thighs where the redness started. It happened again this afternoon just on one leg but the other one went red/purple blotchy. I'm taking him to the docs tommorrow.

I just wanted to share as this is really scaring me, and im worrying as he's due his next set of jabs in a few weeks x

 

[lezzleyr]

Hi
I hope you can help?

I have found your post when searching on google, my 18 week old daughter has exactly the same symptoms as you describe. This has happened on quite a few occasions now, the first being a few days after her 8 week vaccinations, then after after the 12 week and again after the 16 week ones with a few other episodes as well. The first time this happened we went to a&e with the same, it going away leaving a slight rash which the hospital wanted to check out so we had to stay in for observation for a few hours, but she was fine and happy by then!!

We have just seen a paediatrician who is going to look into this further but she initially thought it was urticaria or hives, which, on looking at pics of hives doesnt look like it at all, the symptons you describe are identical, red swollen legs and feet, with blue/purple patches and the veins look like they are at the surface. It is awful to see and she is so upset when it happens. Did you ever find out what it was? did you have any more episodes? i really hope you are still on this site as well and will read this post.

Thank you
Lesley x

 

[LittleBoSheep]

I am so very glad that you all have come together and found a connection to these scary symptoms - I hope all of your LOs feels better soon

 

[bon03]

Hi i have had three experiences of the swelling leg sydrome but lastnight my daughters leg was so swollen it left tiny bruices under the skin.shes 4months old .the hospital of course didnt know what it was.i have read your stories on here dating back to 2010 and wondered if any of you had any joy of tests for what it was . Me and my partner are finding the whole ordeal emotionally draining cannot bear to have her in pain

Look forward to you responses

 

[bon03]

Hi is this site still running need some urgent advice

 

[beth_terri]

Hi is this site still running need some urgent advice

Your poor lo. Hope someone can offer you some help on here! Keep bumping the thread or write a new one if no one answers x

 

[mandimoo]

This is scary, that so many have experienced this, but no doctors know what it is. Hope someone can answer soon.

 

[Here_we_go]

This is awful! So many have experienced it but yet no real answers. I sure hope someone can help

 

[lezzleyr]

Hi Bon03! Just reading your post of 28 may! My little one is now 8 months old! We did not get an answer to the problem after having checks and blood tests we were told that she would probably grow out of it and its more likely something to do with blood vessels settling down as she gets older! I haven't had an episode since march now touch wood! I personally thought it happened when she was extremely upset and agitated and a couple of times it did leave small bruises on her legs just above her ankles. As soon as u think its coming on try to give your little one some calpol and try just walking around with her and remove all the clothing from her legs and feet trying not to touch them or as little as possible as it seemed like this hurt more when we touched them! I'm booked in to see consultant just before yearly jabs just in case it is associated with them but she thinks its just coincidence. Good luck and hugs to your little one xx

 

[Miffosara]

Here's another worried mom!

Just two weeks ago, my 5 months old baby had the same symptoms and none of te doctors or nurses we saw or spoke to has any clue to what it was. She was sitting in her babysitter while her dad was changing diapers on her twin sister, when she suddenly started screaming. At first I thought I had scared her because I had just walked out of the shower and into the room where they were. We couldn't comfort her in any way. She wouldn't eat. I thought I'd change her diaper and that's when I noticed her legs. They were hot, red and so swollen her toes went blue. I immediately called for an ambulance. My baby was screaming like crazy for an hour or so and I wish for her to never be in such pain again. The swelling left small bruises on her skin, just like a few of you described. They don't really think it's an allergic reaction, although they treated it like anafylaxia.

Has any of you gotten a diagnosis yet? I'm so worried it will reoccur and as I was browsing for information I found this thread. I live in Sweden but have found no forum threads or any information at all about this in swedish. Please, if any of you have some morse information absolut this, would you please share it?

 

[sevenofnine]

This happened to my niece a day after her jabs. The doctors say they don't know what it was, but it was terrible.

 

[egeoffrey]

Last night, my 3-month-old baby had the exact same symptoms. Sudden, extreme crying, with red, swollen legs, for no apparent reason. At first we thought he had just been startled by my dad's deep voice, but the crying just got more and more intense, and then we noticed the bright red legs. This is a baby who hardly ever cries, so it was clear that he was in pain. After about 10 minutes, I was about to call emergency services, when the redness gradually started to fade. He's fine now, with just a couple of tiny bruise-like dots on his leg. I'm sure it isn't vaccine related, because he has never had an immunization in his life. I would sure like to know if anyone finds out what causes this.

 

[bccolbur]

Our 5 month old has had 2 episodes where he screams and nothing soothes him. One was approximately a month ago, the latest just now. Both times happened soon after I changed his clothes and was feeding him, and had him on his play mat briefly. I think I see tiny bumps, like he was bitten by mosquitoes or something on his toes, ankle etc., but we don't have flees and the mosquitoes were not out a month ago, and not yet now.
I don't have allergies, but rarely, my hands swell up, red, and itchy for unknown reasons. My wife gets hives (from citrus she thinks).
Since cold water helps my hands, I soak a washcloth in cool water and rub his legs down. It seems to sooth him immediately. It last about 10-15 min or until I get him wiped down with a cool cloth. We unfortunately still have carpet until I can install wood, maybe its from the dust? Contact allergy? Doesn't seem to correlate with any vaccines.
The fact that wiping his legs with the wet cloth help, makes me think my baby was having a contact allergy reaction to something.

 

[aurumice]

My DS - 4 months had the exactly problem.

He cried and I was unable to soothe him. As soon as I got to the GP, the redness went away.

I wished I know what went wrong. *sigh

 

[kamaratka]

Hi dont know if you still use this site, but im doing some research now as the same thing happened to my 5month old son, it had happened to him 3times approx once a month since started his vaccines. Although it happened a month after vaccines now after reading things on internet im sure it was caused by vaccination. He was seen by gp everytime and got no answer what could have caused it, once addmitted to hospital. He is fine now just wondered what happened to babies that had the same thing ? Some comments here are from few years ago so im hoping some mums still on this site now and can tell me if babies are ok, did they just grow out of it? Thank you very much

 

[sevenofnine]

Hi dont know if you still use this site, but im doing some research now as the same thing happened to my 5month old son, it had happened to him 3times approx once a month since started his vaccines. Although it happened a month after vaccines now after reading things on internet im sure it was caused by vaccination. He was seen by gp everytime and got no answer what could have caused it, once addmitted to hospital. He is fine now just wondered what happened to babies that had the same thing ? Some comments here are from few years ago so im hoping some mums still on this site now and can tell me if babies are ok, did they just grow out of it? Thank you very much

My niece was just fine after all was said and done. She's 9 years old and healthy!

 

[Mumma_to_one]

Hi to all the lovely mummas out there.

I notice this thread is dated. I'm having the same problems as described here with my 17 week old baby girl. My Dr is saying she has Mitchell's disease. I am hoping and praying this is not that case. I am just wondering if anyone is still active? If so how long did this last? Did it only happen the once to your child?

Scared mumma. X

 

[BettyT]

Hi Mums, and thanks for all the posts on this thread, as despite being a while ago, they have calmed my worries slightly where doctors have failed! Our 19 week old boy has had this exact same thing for the past 2 weeks, starting 8 hours after his 3rd set of jabs and having flare ups every couple of days. We're currently waiting for blood test results and just hoping it goes away. If any of you read this I would be interested to know how your little ones are now, and if any one know what it is and how long it lasts. Thanks again for the info on here, it's keeping me sane at the mo! X

 

[Kristalebear1]

I would like to post because I suffer from something that may be it, it is called hives. And yes it can be triggered by vaccines, not because of the vaccine but the needle!!! Hives is caused by an over production of histamines, histamines is your body's defense when something happens to it like a mosquito bite for intense histamines are what made the large red bump (not the bite). Some people have what's called chronic hives (I do) ill spare you the big medical term. But if I shake hands with someone my body thinks I've been "attacked" and over releases histamines. This causes hives, itchy red/pink tiny bumps and boy are they itchy. Now luckily I'm sure your LO dont have it as bad as bad as me, but they most likely suffer from hives. They are harmless, not contagious, just a symptom of over histamine production. The good news is Benadryl for those who have older babies is a H1 histamine blocker otherwise known as an anti histamine, for an h2 histamine blocker you will need to see your doctor as the only one available OTC is an adult heartburn (Zantac) medication. Sometimes benodryl helps, sometimes it doesn't when it doesn't its because the histamine being produced is h2.

The reaction from the vaccine most likely triggered over histamine production because the body thought it was being attacked (like a big bite for instance) and it sent out its defenses, histamines. It can take anywhere from a day to a month for it to case hives it really just depends on how much the body released and how fast. Hives can also be triggered by food allergies, bug bites, shots, allergies, certain fabrics.. And in chronic cases even a handshake. This is all due to histamines.

The good news is it is nothing to fear, it will go away on its own, calamine lotion will help with itchiness. cool baths help and not over heating the body, heat makes it itchier and worse.

Its most likely not caused by vaccines, it could simply be an irritating fabric, carpet, dust, allergies (idk where all are from but its certainly allergy season here) on the off chance the vaccine did it, it was most likely irritation from the needle plus the vaccination causing further irritation after injected that it caused a minor outbreak of hives. This isn't anything to fear and your child is better off vaccinated (not trying to insult those who dont believe) hives are not deadly, not harmful.. Just really itchy.

I hope I helped 😊 and sorry for the super long reply. If something doesn't make sense feel free to ask me. I'm typing on my phone so I may have spelling errors haha.

 

[BettyT]

Hi Kristalebear1,
Thanks for your response. I was wondering if it was hives as it definitely seems like a reaction or allergy to something, however the blotches aren't raised and they appear and disappear within 15-20mins, and not return again for a couple of days. Does this still sound familiar? It doesn't look like any of the photos of hives I've seen but I suppose that could be because he's still so young.... Anyway thanks for replying as we are worried and really at a loss?! Will show the doc a better photo next time and see what he thinks X