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seizures and the flu shot

Wed, 10/13/2010 - 18:10

Hi! 

My name is Sharon and my 9 year old is in the process of being diagnosed with epilepsy.  As a matter of fact, we go this Friday to find out the results of her prolonged video EEG....during which she did have another seizure. 

Anyway, she is due to have a flu shot at her pediatrician's office next week and I was wondering if she can still get it.  The reason I'm asking is when I went to get my flu shot last week, they asked if I had seizures.  Is there something in the flu shot that could possiblt trigger a seizure?

I will, of course, be asking her neurologist Friday about this, but I was curious if anyone knew anything about this.

Thank you for any info you may have!

Sharon

Comments

Re: seizures and the flu shot

Submitted by Terribee on Fri, 2010-10-15 - 21:25

Hi Sharon:

You raise a very interesting question--I would definitely like to hear what the neuro says. 

I was two when diagnosed with epilepsy.  I received the proper vaccinations with no adverse effects--the flu shot would probably yield the same results. My neuro suggested to my mother that I get a flu shot.  She flat out refused. She believes that you should experience the flu naturally rather than artificially (as the flu shot sometimes induces flu-like symptoms). 

How do you gain a strong immunity to flu strains if you get vaccinated?  When the H1N1 flu shot was available to those with chronic conditions first, I thought about it but decided against getting it.  I am sure that I did get H1N1 but it wasn't as bad as the media projected it to be.  When it comes around again I'll have built that immunity up and am more likely not to have H1N1.  Many teachers get the flu shot annually and still get the flu! So is a flu shot really worth it and worth the risk of possible seizures? In my opinion--no.  As a side note--did anyone get the H1N1 flu shot and if so why did you decide to get it?

Good luck,

Teresa

Hi Sharon:

You raise a very interesting question--I would definitely like to hear what the neuro says. 

I was two when diagnosed with epilepsy.  I received the proper vaccinations with no adverse effects--the flu shot would probably yield the same results. My neuro suggested to my mother that I get a flu shot.  She flat out refused. She believes that you should experience the flu naturally rather than artificially (as the flu shot sometimes induces flu-like symptoms). 

How do you gain a strong immunity to flu strains if you get vaccinated?  When the H1N1 flu shot was available to those with chronic conditions first, I thought about it but decided against getting it.  I am sure that I did get H1N1 but it wasn't as bad as the media projected it to be.  When it comes around again I'll have built that immunity up and am more likely not to have H1N1.  Many teachers get the flu shot annually and still get the flu! So is a flu shot really worth it and worth the risk of possible seizures? In my opinion--no.  As a side note--did anyone get the H1N1 flu shot and if so why did you decide to get it?

Good luck,

Teresa

Re: seizures and the flu shot

Submitted by juperee on Tue, 2010-10-19 - 03:13

hi!i am a 30-something with epilepsy for the past several years.

I just want to point out that whenever there is s shortage of flu vaccines, they reserve the vaccine for those most in need.  This includes: pregnant women, the elderly, the weak (with some other disease) and people with epilepsy. 

The reason is, fever and the general physical toll that fighting the flu takes can lower your seizure threshold. So getting the vaccine is important to people already predisposed to seizures.

After I was diagnosed and medicated, I had no loss-of-consiousness seizures until i was bedridden with a nasty bug. Afterwards, I called the neurodoc and asked if it should be expected to have more seizures with the flu. He said yes, but increased my dose of Keppra permanently anyway.

As far as why they asked you (when you went for your own vaccine) for your seizure history, I can say (as a regular blood donor) they ask whenever they are going to put needles in you, just for liability and their own safety reasons.

So no worries; get the vaccine!!

hi!i am a 30-something with epilepsy for the past several years.

I just want to point out that whenever there is s shortage of flu vaccines, they reserve the vaccine for those most in need.  This includes: pregnant women, the elderly, the weak (with some other disease) and people with epilepsy. 

The reason is, fever and the general physical toll that fighting the flu takes can lower your seizure threshold. So getting the vaccine is important to people already predisposed to seizures.

After I was diagnosed and medicated, I had no loss-of-consiousness seizures until i was bedridden with a nasty bug. Afterwards, I called the neurodoc and asked if it should be expected to have more seizures with the flu. He said yes, but increased my dose of Keppra permanently anyway.

As far as why they asked you (when you went for your own vaccine) for your seizure history, I can say (as a regular blood donor) they ask whenever they are going to put needles in you, just for liability and their own safety reasons.

So no worries; get the vaccine!!

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