What is diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?
Diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus are serious diseases caused by
bacteria.
Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, and airway. It can lead to breathing
problems, paralysis, heart failure, or death.
Haemophilus influenzae can cause minor flu symptoms or it can cause more serious
symptoms such as swelling around the throat, making it hard to swallow or breathe.
Haemophilus influenzae can also cause swelling of the membranes around the brain and spinal
cord (meningitis).
Pertussis (whooping cough) causes coughing so severe that it interferes with eating,
drinking, or breathing. These spells can last for weeks and can lead to pneumonia, seizures
(convulsions), brain damage, and death.
Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It
can lead to "locking" of the jaw so the victim cannot open the mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads
to death in about 1 out of 10 cases.
Diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, and pertussis are spread from person to person.
Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound.
The diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine is used to help
prevent these diseases in people who are ages 2 months to 5 years old.
This vaccine works by exposing your child to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein
from the bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will
not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.
Like any vaccine, the diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine
may not provide protection from disease in every person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?
Your child should not receive this vaccine if he or she has ever had a life-threatening
allergic reaction to any vaccine containing diphtheria, haemophilus, pertussis, or tetanus.
Your child should not receive this vaccine if the child has:
Your child may not be able to receive this vaccine if he or she has ever
received a similar vaccine that caused any of the following:
-
a very high fever (over 104 degrees);
-
a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain;
-
excessive crying for 3 hours or longer;
-
fainting or going into shock;
-
seizure (convulsions); or
-
Guillain-Barré syndrome (within 6 weeks after receiving a
vaccine containing tetanus).
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor if your child has:
-
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy
bruising;
-
a history of seizures;
-
a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if
this was a reaction to a previous vaccine);
-
an allergy to latex rubber;
-
a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow
transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
-
if the child is taking a blood thinner such as warfarin
(Coumadin).
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever.
In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets
better before receiving this vaccine.
How should I take diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?
This vaccine is given as an injection into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection
in a doctor's office or other clinic setting.
The diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine is given in a series
of shots. The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months old. The booster shots are
then given at 4 months, 6 months, and 12 to 15 months of age. Your child's individual booster
schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the
schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever
such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given
and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how
much of this medicine to give your child.
It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure
disorder such as epilepsy.
What happens if I miss a dose of diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?
Contact your doctor if you will miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. The
next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. If your child does not
receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Where can I get more information about diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?
Your pharmacist has information about diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening
allergic reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine.
When the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots
caused any side effects.
Becoming infected with diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, or tetanus is much
more dangerous to your child's health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases.
Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is
extremely low.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if the child has any of these serious side effects:
-
extreme drowsiness, fainting;
-
fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer;
-
seizure (black-out or convulsions); or
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high fever.
Less serious side effects may include:
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redness, pain, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given;
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low fever;
-
mild fussiness or crying;
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headache or tiredness;
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joint pain, body aches;
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loss of appetite; or
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mild nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?
The diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine is given in a series
of shots. The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months old. The booster shots are
then given at 4 months, 6 months, and 12 to 15 months of age. Your child's individual booster
schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the
schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. If your child does not
receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the case of a
more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before
receiving this vaccine.
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening
allergic reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When
the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any
side effects.
Becoming infected with diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, or tetanus is much
more dangerous to your child's health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases.
Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is
extremely low.
What should I avoid while taking diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity
after receiving the vaccine.
What other drugs will affect diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines your child has
recently received.
Also tell the doctor if your child has received drugs or treatments in the past 2 weeks that
can weaken the immune system, including:
-
an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
-
medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or
other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept
(Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
-
medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection,
such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3
(Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).
If your child is using any of these drugs, he or she may not be able to
receive the vaccine.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can affect this vaccine. Tell
your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications your child has received.
This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not
start using a new medication without telling your child's doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine?
