Flu Shot Side Effect and a Antibiotic Question Please

Why are sinus infection and viral in quotes? Do you think that those are incorrect diagnoses? If your son has viral infections then the antibiotics will not work. That would be likely why the other two antibiotics didn't work, and a third wouldn't either. Your doctor was hesitant because there's a high chance this third antibiotic won't work and all it would do is build up resistance to the antibiotics for when he needs them for bacterial infections.

When there's a viral sinus infection, you can still treat the symptoms with over-the-counter treatments such as Tylenol for aches and pain and fever. You can also treat his sinuses with saline solution to help break up mucus and relieve his sinuses of pain and pressure.

The Tylenol would also help ease the ache from the flu shot. The shot should have been given in a soft, fleshy area and not a muscle. Rub the area gently to help distribute the medicine. A nice warm bath will help with the aching and soreness too. But yes, it's normal.

A runny diaper is likely NOT from the vaccine but could be from swallowing a lot of post nasal drip from his sinus infection or is a sign of an intestinal virus. Give him lots of fluids like soup and whatever he'll eat that's nice and healthy. My girls like fruity teas and non-caffeinated herbal teas when they're sick. My middle daughter loves ginger and other spices, so she also loves vanilla chai tea when it's hot. It helps soothe the throat and get fluids in.

Personally I would hold off on the antibiotics and let the other ones run their course. They're still in his system for a while anyway. Wait and see. His body knows what to do.

He's already sick from his upper respiratory infection and ear infection. As this is ongoing, I suggest that you get a referral to an ENT.

For his sore thigh, if he has a knot in his thigh, a fever, and the area at the site of the shot feels very hot, and it's very tender to (gentle) touch, call your doctor. If it's not severe, give him Tylenol or Motrin. It's the magic pain pill that helps toddlers deal with all shots. :-) He'll be up and moving in no time. The more he moves, the less pain he'll feel.

The runny diaper is not likely to be related. It's more likely to be related to his being on antibiotics for so long.

Are you doing anything homeopathic to help things? Like Vitamin D drops in his liquids, or probiotic in his multivitamin, or ascorbate C powder in his liquids? Have you gotten opinions from other doctors, or seen an ENT?

As far as suffering: Do do things like steamy bathroom (steaming hot water in the sink and tub, with drops of eucalyptus oil added) time for 15mins/night to help with drainage/mucous/etc? Have you tried Tylenol/Motrin as others mentioned (but not around the vaccine, as peeds are saying not to take those around vaccines because they decrease the effectiveness)? Are you increasing his fluids (I stress my son to drink over eating when sick, to flush things out)?

My son has been on antibiox twice - the first time it didn't seem to work after 10days, so we increased his chiro visits and the infection was gone in two days; the second time it worked within a week. Both times, we doubled his priobiotic intake and Vitamin D drops.

I've heard of knots in the legs from shots (and those moms massaged the legs) - but I'm also surprised they gave him a vaccine when he was sick, as our peed has said they would wait until the illness was gone.

Good luck!

I think I would do the antibiotic but also but the little OTC probiotic packs for kids and put one in his milk daily. The pharmacists can tell you the exact name, if you want to do that, I can't remember right now. Also, I am so surprised that while he is dealing with infections he was given the vaccine, but I feel so sorry for your little guy!! But I guess with it getting late in the season maybe they felt they had to go for it? I had to keep pushing my kids shots back bc someone had a cold for like three or four weeks, they finally all got healthy and we went and got shots. Maybe the person giving the shot wasn't the greatest, I had that happen once, my son screamed hysterically for hours, it was horrible. I say put warm compresses on the shot site, massage gently and keep a watch on it as well as giving children's tylenol or motrin. Hope he feels better soon!

Give him a little massage all over and rub that leg where he got the shot. That way it won't get a bump/lump and he will be out of pain. All of the symptoms you stated are normal for what he had. I would do the antibiotic so you can nip this thing in the bud. Don't let him suffer~The doctor gave you the RX---use it :)

Sometimes when kids get shots it hurts, they don't walk and then it gets more sore. I would assume it's that. Have him walk anyhow.
As for the antibiotic I would not give another round. Too much is causing all kinds of problems now they are finding. I've written on here before about our grandsons who had fevers, etc., etc. sinus things and were on antibiotic way too often. Finally they took him to an allergist who gave him that pneumococcal shot. Hope I spelled it right this time. Anyhow, they haven't been sick since. It's been two years now and they are well and feel great. I don't know much about the shot but I know it's given more now days.
http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/pneumococcal-vaccine
I only mention this because these grandchildren had sinus issues and you should not take antibiotics back to back so often. Then when you really need one it's not affective and there are side effects they are finding out. Check with your doctor/allergist.

Some info first. Kids sinuses do not fully open until age 20. Meaning a true bacterial sinus infection is extremely rare and needs to be treated by a specialist only, not antibiotics form a ped. Ear infections are almost always viral. Something like 99%plus of ear infections are viral and will clear up on their own without antibiotics, give pain meds instead. So it is highly unlikely that your little one even needed antibiotics to begin with. He should not have them for an ear infection and he should not have them for a sinus infection without being seen by a specialist first. Another fact is kids this age pick up viruses back to back this time of year. Things will often start with a runny nose, sometimes cough, sore throat or ear ache. Can also get a GI virus tho those tend to be most violent in the winter months. Most of these colds last 1 to 2 weeks, some can last as long as 3 to 4 weeks. A sign that the virus is nearing the end of its course is that the mucous coming from the nose will turn thicker and become a yellowish or greenish color. Once that happens it should take about another week to 10 days, unless they pick up another virus, again very common this time of year to get back to back viruses, especially at that age, but even through the elementary years. My guess would be that he has been having viral infections, not bacterial. As I said it is very rare for a young child especially one under age 12 to get a true sinus infection. And the ones that do get then should be sent to a specialist. So now onto the questions, no I would not give the antibiotic. Not for viruses. Most kids don't need them but sometimes a cold or flu can turn into something worse, something that becomes bacterial or they can be exposed to something like pertussis which is a bacterial infection, and they will need an antibiotic to rid the body of it or at the least shorten the span of illness. If they have taken numerous antibiotics their body can build up a tolerance and when they really need it it may not work or work well enough. It is easy to get a sample and have it tested for bacteria but most docs don't do it as it is expensive and is usually reserved for when they really believe a child or adult has a true bacterial infection. So my advice and what I would do for my children would be to try to make them comfortable give lots and lots of fluids, make sure they are taking a daily acidophiles(probiotic) tablet, which can be chew-able if he chews well enough or a powder mixed into a food or drink. As for the flu shot, many people do experience mild symptoms after including pain and swelling at the injection site. Check the injection site you can add compresses to relieve pain or give a mild pain reliever. As for the loose bowels it is possible that it is a side effect of the vaccine but it more likely a symptom of whatever virus he now has. Often viral illnesses especially upper respiratory will cause loose bowels in children. And certain strains are more likely to cause it than others. So again just make sure you keep him hydrated and comfortable. Hope this helps some.