I had a reaction to DTP as a baby, developed arthritis at age 5, a link?

[Gabrielle's Mom]

I'm really wondering about this.

I had a convulsion following my first DTP shot as a baby. My mom told the dr, and he said they would do half doses from then onward. I developed JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) at age 5, probably sometime after my Kindergarten boosters.

I've always wondered if there was a link. I would never tell my mom I suspect this, because back then so many people just vaxed and there wasn't all of the info out there.

[Nathan1097]

Wow. My daughter had the same thing plus high-piched screaming after her first set of shots at 2 mos, including DTaP. I told them absoutely no more pertussis shots. But they give out more info these days- even at the dr's.

I dont' know what to say about arthritis. My daughter does not have it and she is 7, but she hasn't had any other pertussis shots either.

[Gabrielle's Mom]

I'm sorry your DD reacted to it too. My mom said almost anytime I got a high fever I convulsed and went to the hospital many, many times to be checked out. I can't believe she let them give me more DTP shots, but I guess she thought she had to.

[Ruthla]

Also, don't forget that they used the whole-cell pertussis vaccine when we were babies. One dose of DTaP has got to be less damaging than 3-4 doses of DTP. Plus, some individuals are just "lucky" and don't get any obvious illnesses from the same physical onslaught.