Reactions to the Tetanus and Tetanus Combination Vaccine

Brachial Neuritis, also called brachial neuropathy or brachial plexus injury, is a disease that can cause pain and loss of function of the upper body and arms.

Although the exact cause of brachial neuritis is unknown, this rare condition is known to sometimes occur after injection with the tetanus or flu vaccine or as the result of an injury. Brachial neuritis symptoms usually disappear on their own after a few months, and they can also be managed with medical treatment.

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. It can be caused by a direct infection to the brain (a condition called infectious encephalitis) or by the immune system mistakenly attacking the brain (a condition called autoimmune encephalitis, or post-infectious encephalitis). In very rare cases, individuals have experienced autoimmune encephalitis after getting a vaccination.

Although treatment for encephalitis exists, recovery from this disorder varies widely on a case-by-case basis. While some people make full recoveries, others are left with lifelong complications.

Transverse Myelitis is a rare neurological disorder in which both sides of the spinal cord become inflamed, causing paralysis, pain, and other problems throughout the body.

An autoimmune disease, transverse myelitis occurs when a triggering event, like an infection or the tetanus vaccine, causes the immune system to go haywire and attack the spinal cord as if it were a disease.

Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP), also called IgA vasculitis, is a disease in which the blood vessels swell and can even leak. HSP occurs when the immune system becomes overactive and mistakenly attacks the blood vessels.

Though it is not clear what exactly triggers this overactive response from the immune system, some individuals have developed HSP after receiving the tetanus vaccine.

Fainting, known in the medical world as syncope, can occur after a variety of routine medical procedures, including the tetanus shot. According to the CDC, there have been “reports of people fainting after nearly all vaccines,” and post-vaccine fainting is especially common among teenagers.

Although most cases of post-vaccine fainting are relatively harmless, the fall sometimes results in serious injuries.

One study conducted by the CDC’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System found that about 7% of syncope reports were categorized as “serious” due to their resulting injuries, such as head injuries.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, or CIDP, is a disorder that causes weakness and dysfunction in the limbs. In rare cases, CIDP can develop after receiving a tetanus shot.

Though the exact cause of CIDP is not known, evidence suggests that it is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the protective layer around the nerves.

CIDP typically begins with numbness or tingling in the toes and/or fingers, and then spreads to the arms and legs. Although some individuals experience permanent weakness in the affected body parts, most people with CIDP make a full recovery.

Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) is a rare disease in which the arteries become inflamed and unable to transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

Though the exact cause of PAN is not known, scientists believe that PAN is caused by a triggering event that prompts the immune system to attack the arteries. Triggering events might be an illness, drug use, or, in rare cases, the tetanus vaccine.

The most common symptoms of PAN are kidney problems, joint pain, and muscular pain. There is no cure for PAN, and severe cases can result in organ failure.