Diphtheria/Tetanus/Acellular Pertussis/Polio/Hib Vaccine (By injection)
dif-THEER-ee-a TOX-oyd, ad-SORBD, TET-a-nus TOX-oyd, per-TUS-iss VAX-een, a-SELL-yoo-lar, POE-lee-oh VYE-rus VAX-een, in-AK-ti-vated, hee-MOF-i-lus B KON-joo-gate VAX-een
Protects against infections caused by diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b.
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (also known as DTaP) combined with inactivated poliovirus and Haemophilus B conjugate vaccine (also known as IPV and Hib) is a combination vaccine that is given to protect against infections caused by diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis (whooping cough), poliovirus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. The vaccine works by causing the body to produce its own protection (antibodies) against these diseases. This vaccine is only given to infants and children who are 6 weeks to 4 years of age, and is given before the child’s 5th birthday.
Diphtheria is a serious illness that can cause breathing difficulties, heart problems, nerve damage, pneumonia, and possibly death. The risk of serious complications is greater in very young children and the elderly.
Tetanus (also known as lockjaw) is a very serious illness that causes seizures and severe muscle spasms that can be strong enough to cause bone fractures of the spine. The disease continues to occur almost exclusively among people who do not get vaccinated or do not have enough protection from previous vaccines.
Pertussis (also known as whooping cough) is a serious disease that causes severe spells of coughing that can interfere with breathing. Pertussis can also cause pneumonia, long-lasting bronchitis, seizures, brain damage, and death.
Polio is a very serious infection that causes paralysis of the muscles, including the muscles that enable you to walk and breathe. A polio infection may leave a person unable to breathe without the help of a breathing machine. It may also leave a person unable to walk without leg braces or being confined to a wheelchair. There is no cure for polio.
Infection by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria can cause life-threatening illnesses, such as meningitis, which affects the brain; epiglottitis, which affects the throat and can cause death by suffocation; pericarditis, which affects the heart; pneumonia, which affects the lungs; and septic arthritis, which affects the bones and joints.
This vaccine is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your child’s doctor or other authorized health care professional.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Injectable, Injectable
A nurse or other trained health professional will give your child this vaccine. The vaccine is given as a shot into one of your child’s muscles. Your child will receive a series of 4 shots.
Your child may receive other vaccines at the same time as this one. You should receive patient information sheets about all of the vaccines. Make sure you understand all of the information that is given to you.
Your child may also receive medicines to help prevent or treat some minor side effects of the vaccine, such as fever and soreness.
If a dose is missed:
If this vaccine is part of a series of vaccines, it is important that your child receive all of the shots. Try to keep all scheduled appointments. If your child must miss a shot, make another appointment with the doctor as soon as possible.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Make sure your doctor knows if your child uses a medicine that weakens the immune system, such as a steroid (such as hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone), radiation treatment, or cancer medicine. This vaccine may not work as well if your child has a weak immune system.
When Not To Use
This vaccine should not be given to a child who has had an allergic reaction to the separate or combined diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, or Haemophilus b vaccines. This vaccine should not be given to a child who has had seizures, mood or mental changes, or lost consciousness within 7 days after receiving a pertussis vaccine. This vaccine should not be given to a child who has brain problems or seizures that are not controlled.
Warnings
Make sure your child’s doctor knows if your child has been sick or had a fever recently. Tell your doctor about all other vaccines your child has had. Tell your doctor about any reaction your child has had after receiving any type of vaccine. This includes fainting, seizures, a fever over 105 degrees F, crying that would not stop, or severe redness or swelling where the shot was given. Tell your doctor if your child has had Guillain-Barré syndrome after a tetanus vaccine.
Make sure your doctor knows if your child was born prematurely. This vaccine may cause breathing problems in infants born prematurely.
This vaccine will not treat an active infection. If your child has an infection due to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, or Haemophilus influenzae type b, your child will need medicines to treat these infections.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Chills, cough, sore throat, body aches
Crying constantly for 3 hours or more
Fever over 105 degrees F
Lightheadedness or fainting
Seizures
Severe muscle weakness, sleepiness, or drowsiness
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Fussiness or irritability
Mild pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or a lump where the shot was given
Tiredness
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Pentacel
There may be other brand names for this medicine.