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Suggest Treatment For A Hard Lump At The Injection Site After Injecting Favirab

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Posted on Wed, 30 Nov 2016
Question: I was injected with Rabies Immune Globulin (Favirab) and there is a hard lump now at the injection site.

How can i treat it?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (18 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
you can't do much...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

a hard lump can be caused by local bleeding (below the skin), local inflammatory reaction or infection. Infections usually have the most blatant clinical picture with pain, redness, warmth and pus formation. Infections have to be managed with drainage and perhaps antibiotics.

The most likely cause in this case (although I haven't examined you but statistics rarely miss the cause) is a local reaction by the vaccine. You can't do much about it. If it's bleeding (a bruise should be evident or starting to show up) then creams with anticoagulants may help it to dissolve sooner.

If you can't distinguish between the entities I've described then you'd better visit your doctor for assessment.

I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (33 hours later)
It appears that one of the side effects of Rabies Immune Globulin is hard lump at injection site. I believe this has to be temporary?

For hard lump reactions caused by other vaccines, it is recommended that warm compress be used on injection site. Does it work for this case?

I hope this lump is temporary. I tried moving the lump about and sort of "irritate" it and now it is a little be painful when touched hard.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it depends

Detailed Answer:
Local side effects are indeed very common. 1 out of 4 patients develop local symptoms after vaccination. It it's a hematoma (which is not very common) then warm compresses may make it worse, so it's not recommended unless you do know the diagnosis.

If it's inflammatory in nature then warm compresses may help but do not expect much. Time will make it better.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (22 hours later)
Many thanks Dr Zografaskis

I hope to tap some experience from practicing physicians. Have you or your colleagues encountered such situations - hard lump after immune globulin injections? It is listed as a side effect. How long does it take for the lump to disappear if it ever does?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (57 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
you're welcome

Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!

I have not followed many patients who have taken measures against rabies, so I can't talk specifically about this particular product. I've seen many local side effects from other vaccines and immune globulins though. Most local side effects disappear within 24 hours but they're less intense. Usually lumps get smaller with time. You should expect improvement within weeks not days (unless it's a tiny lump). If you don't see any improvement over the next couple of weeks then it's very likely that it's going to be there for ever...
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3814 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For A Hard Lump At The Injection Site After Injecting Favirab

Brief Answer: you can't do much... Detailed Answer: Hello, a hard lump can be caused by local bleeding (below the skin), local inflammatory reaction or infection. Infections usually have the most blatant clinical picture with pain, redness, warmth and pus formation. Infections have to be managed with drainage and perhaps antibiotics. The most likely cause in this case (although I haven't examined you but statistics rarely miss the cause) is a local reaction by the vaccine. You can't do much about it. If it's bleeding (a bruise should be evident or starting to show up) then creams with anticoagulants may help it to dissolve sooner. If you can't distinguish between the entities I've described then you'd better visit your doctor for assessment. I hope it helps! Kind Regards!