Open AccessEpistaxis and gross haematuria with severe thrombocytopaenia associated with influenza vaccination
Author(s) -
Abdullah Almohammadi,
Michael Lundin,
Calvin Abro,
Borys Hrinczenko
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2019-229423
Subject(s) - medicine , vaccination , influenza vaccine , pediatrics , measles , immunology
Epistaxis may be attributed to many causes during the winter including dry mucous membranes from low indoor humidity from heating. However, epistaxis may also be due to thrombocytopaenia. Immune thrombocytopaenia purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder causing thrombocytopaenia. Viral infections sometimes lead to ITP. Vaccines, predominantly the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, have been associated with the development of ITP. There are several published case reports regarding influenza vaccine induced ITP. However, an association between ITP and influenza vaccination has not been firmly proven yet. We report the case of an adult with three episodes of epistaxis, each within 1 week of receiving a yearly influenza trivalent inactivated vaccine, the last episode being more severe and also featuring gross haematuria.