Cellulitis is a BACTERIAL infection, not related to an allergic reaction, IIRC. Likely causes of bacterial infection during vaccinations is improper wiping of the skin area to be injected with alcohol swab or poor handwashing in the person administering the vaccination.
Do be aware that with an allergic reaction that swells the throat, there is potential for that to be life threatening type allergic response.
The prednisone works to reduce inflammation, so the allergic response is minimized. Steroids reduce the display of symptoms, but - in this case, if the antibiotic being used for the cellulitis is not the proper antibiotic for the specific bacteria that caused the cellulitis, the prednisone could blunt the symptoms from the cellulitis that would show if the antibiotic is not working.
SO it sounds as if you have TWO seperate problems, 1. an allergic reaction and 2. a bacterial infection. And the treatment for one could complicate treatment for the other.
And then you have the possibility that the prednisone can cause mania, not just in bipolar people but in non bipolar people as well.
Steroids are found in many different forms, - many anti itch creams have steroids in them and the steroid is absorbed into the body. Many asthma medications and or inhalers also have steroids in them.
On a side note, re:vaccines- my oldest child (bipolar) did OK with ALL her vaccines. My easy child reacted to her DTP and they had to leave out the P part of vaccines after her 2 month vaccines. My son, they were afraid to give him the P part, but they wound up instead giving him half vaccines- but twice as many, spread out. My kids all had chicken pox so none got the chicken pox vaccine when it became available. I got my DTP booster and MMR booster in 2000 and exactly 10 days later I was smacked down hard, eventually diagnosis'ed rheumatic illness, related to vaccines, and was bedridden unable to use my extremities for over 2 years.
(I had been diagnosis'ed Lupus in 1979)
I am bipolar, diagnosis'ed decades ago, but I take no bipolar medications. (far too many adverse reactions) Last spring my rheumetologist sstarted me on prednisone, and I was afraid. SUre enough, the ffirst dose he Rx'ed made me hypomanic to a degree I had not bbeen in years. My kids loved the hypomanic me, LOL.I was a happy hypomanic, thank goodness, and not anxious. But then the hypomania extended and I could not sleep. AFter not walking in years I was dancing all over the house. SInging my head off at all hours. I had anticipated such a response, and called my doctor and he lowered the dose. I most likely will always be on prednisone, for my rheumatic illness, without it I have intense irretractible pain the pain medications do not touch and so much swelling and inflammation, I almost had to have a g tube and my joints have no room to move. . SO, for me it is long term, not 4 days....
I worry for kt that if her antibiotic is not bacteria specific, the infection can continue and cause damage and it might not be obvious. I also worry that she got such an infection post vaccine. I worry where she was did not follow proper antiseptic techniques. As for her manic reaction to prednisone, that is very very common, and becuz the prednisone is short term, hopefully it will not be an ongoing problem.
I wish you good luck with the whole situation.
