Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding severe side-effects to watch for and report after receiving flu shot as follows:
- Administration of flu shot can rarely result in severe side-effects such as,
- High fever
- Intense swelling of face, lips, and/or tongue
- Severe difficulty breathing
- Skin breakdown and hives
- Tachycardia
- Fainting and loss of consciousness
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Continued high fever above 101-degree Fahrenheit, any episodes of skin breakdown, LOC episodes with increased fall risk, and severe swelling of face, lips, and/or tongue obstructing the airflow causing difficulty to breathe must be immediately reported to seek additional help.
- In very rare instances, flu shot is thought to contribute to a neurological condition, Guillain-Barre syndrome. Guillain- Barre syndrome is a health condition in which one’s own immune system attacks their nerves, resulting in damage to the nerves, which can lead to muscle weakness and in extreme cases, even paralysis. Infection with flu virus and receiving flu shot are believed to trigger this immune system damage to nerves in some individuals. Individuals receiving flu shot must keep a close watch for evolving extreme muscle weakness and/or paralysis and report to the physician on the same. The association between flu shot and Guillain-Barre syndrome is not completely established though.
