Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Tremors In Hands, Arms And Head After Taking Tetanus Vaccine?
Question: 96 yr old female had a Tetanius vaccine and within 1-2 minutes began to have tremors in her hands, arms and head. This happen about a month ago, the tremors continue but not as bad. She has been to several doctors and several test done including a CT-Scan of her head, but everything was normal. Can someone please help us.
Brief Answer:
Please tell a few details-
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
Surely,I would like to be of help but I need to know a few details before that-
1)Do the tremors occur symmetrically in both hands or asymmetrically(more in one hand than other)?
2)Do the tremors occur when the hands are at rest,postural(while holding something like a cup of tea) or kinetic(like aggravating when,hand reaches towards target like taking bite of food towards mouth)?
3)Do the tremors occur during sleep also?
4)How much have the tremors improved over since beginning(50% or more)?
5)Do you suffer from thyroid disorder or chronic anxiety?
Typical parkinsons disease have some peculiar features.Please tell the details so that I can answer your query well.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Please tell a few details-
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
Surely,I would like to be of help but I need to know a few details before that-
1)Do the tremors occur symmetrically in both hands or asymmetrically(more in one hand than other)?
2)Do the tremors occur when the hands are at rest,postural(while holding something like a cup of tea) or kinetic(like aggravating when,hand reaches towards target like taking bite of food towards mouth)?
3)Do the tremors occur during sleep also?
4)How much have the tremors improved over since beginning(50% or more)?
5)Do you suffer from thyroid disorder or chronic anxiety?
Typical parkinsons disease have some peculiar features.Please tell the details so that I can answer your query well.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I will answer the questions as noted in your reply
1. The tremors affect her hands bilaterally, however the tremors affect the left hand greater the right.
2. While relaxed with hands by side or resting on objects such as chair arms etc. there are no tremors, while holding objects such as cups or silverware there are no tremors seen, nor is there tremors seen when bringing these objects to her mouth. There has been witnessed shaking of her head at times, and tremors are noted when she holds hands out for you see them and lastly, she has tremors seen while reaching for objects and continues until she has the object in her grasp and engaged.
3 There is no tremors observed during sleep
4. She has never been diagnosed with thyroid disease however, does suffer from chronic anxiety.
4. Since the initial onset which was immediate post tetanus shot which consisted of tremors of numerous areas of the body arms, hands, and legs the symptoms has improved around 50-60% however, since that time the symptoms have remained constant with only a minute amount of improvement. She did see neurologist and was told that a tetanus shot would not cause this reaction and that he thought she had Parkinson's Disease. She was then placed on Levodopa however, even with this medication she has shown little to no improvement.
1. The tremors affect her hands bilaterally, however the tremors affect the left hand greater the right.
2. While relaxed with hands by side or resting on objects such as chair arms etc. there are no tremors, while holding objects such as cups or silverware there are no tremors seen, nor is there tremors seen when bringing these objects to her mouth. There has been witnessed shaking of her head at times, and tremors are noted when she holds hands out for you see them and lastly, she has tremors seen while reaching for objects and continues until she has the object in her grasp and engaged.
3 There is no tremors observed during sleep
4. She has never been diagnosed with thyroid disease however, does suffer from chronic anxiety.
4. Since the initial onset which was immediate post tetanus shot which consisted of tremors of numerous areas of the body arms, hands, and legs the symptoms has improved around 50-60% however, since that time the symptoms have remained constant with only a minute amount of improvement. She did see neurologist and was told that a tetanus shot would not cause this reaction and that he thought she had Parkinson's Disease. She was then placed on Levodopa however, even with this medication she has shown little to no improvement.
Brief Answer:
Antianxiety medicines/Beta-blockers/Parkinsonian tremor unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
I am of the opinion that the characteristics of these tremors are not of parkinsonian nature.
Parkinson's tremors are usually asymmetrical and does not usually involve head.The tremors she is having,appear more due to anxiety related.
However,she needs to be observed for if she develops other cardinal signs of parkinson's disease like rigidity and slowness,in future.
For now,she should be kept on antianxiety medicines like clonazepam.At the same time,a trial of beta-blocker drugs should be worthwhile.
Simultaneously,she should be under the regular follow-up of treating neurologist.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Antianxiety medicines/Beta-blockers/Parkinsonian tremor unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
I am of the opinion that the characteristics of these tremors are not of parkinsonian nature.
Parkinson's tremors are usually asymmetrical and does not usually involve head.The tremors she is having,appear more due to anxiety related.
However,she needs to be observed for if she develops other cardinal signs of parkinson's disease like rigidity and slowness,in future.
For now,she should be kept on antianxiety medicines like clonazepam.At the same time,a trial of beta-blocker drugs should be worthwhile.
Simultaneously,she should be under the regular follow-up of treating neurologist.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr. Panwar, you do not think that the Tetanus injection had anything to do with her shaking? The shaking began 1-2 minutes after the injection.
Brief Answer:
Tetanus injection is not causing this shaking.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
With all the clinico-temporal relation in background,this shaking is not likely due to tetanus injection(even if it started after 1-2 min of injection).
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Tetanus injection is not causing this shaking.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
With all the clinico-temporal relation in background,this shaking is not likely due to tetanus injection(even if it started after 1-2 min of injection).
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
